Timothy R. Norton

East Lyme - Timothy R. Norton, 71, of Niantic, died at home Tuesday, July 11, 2017, following a brief battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Calling hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 17, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. There will be a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. A reception will follow at Smarty's on Main Street in Niantic. Interment will be private.

Tim was born May 29, 1946, to the late Harold and Dorothy (Neumann) Norton, in Hartford.

He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of 48 years, Kathleen (Tomasitis) Norton; his cherished children, daughter, Kimberly and husband, Todd Smith, of Pawcatuck and daughter, Kellie and husband, Kurt Hayes, of Niantic; his treasured grandchildren, Presley, Jack, Gracelyn and Jocelyn; his brother, William (Laura) Norton of Clinton; sister, Suzanne Mandeville of Old Lyme; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives whom he loved dearly.

He was predeceased by his sister, Sandra Broga-Norton; and brother, Arthur Norton.

After graduating from Newington High School, Tim completed boot camp at Fort Bragg, N.C. and enlisted in the Army National Guard. Following his time in the service, Tim began working with his father at the auto repair garage, which they relocated to Niantic in 1968. For the past 49 years, Tim has been the owner of Norton's Auto Marine on Main Street, Niantic.

Tim loved his work, and would often say that he had the best view, from the best office, of anyone he knew. He was hardworking, dedicated, strong-willed, optimistic and always there to help anyone, at any time. He had the best attitude and outlook on life. You rarely heard him complain, even when he was having his most uncomfortable moments these last few months.

Tim was an avid outdoorsman. You could often find him on his boat "Bubba Bugs" on the river; playing on a tractor up at "the lot"; or hunting with his lifelong friends in Pennsylvania as he had for the last 50 years. He could rarely sit still, and loved to tinker. He especially loved making projects with his grandchildren.

Heaven may have gained the best marine repairman in town, but we all lost a loving, caring, generous and kind hearted man who was an inspiration to us all. Sorry, but Norton's luncheonette is now closed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude as our dad had a soft spot in his heart for all kids, and was really a big kid himself. https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/donation.do?pID=24671. You may also make a donation to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation to honor the University of Pennsylvania and Yale where he was well cared for and managed by his doctors as he endured this debilitating disease. Donations may be made in memory of Timothy Norton to support Pulmonary Fibrosis research at Penn Medicine at: Penn Medicine Development, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (checks to be made out to: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, and in memory of Timothy Norton). http://pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ways-to-give/donate-now.

Condolences may be shared on Tim's memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.