James Norton
July 21, 1945 — February 8, 2015
James (Jim) Henry Norton, 69, left this earth surrounded by friends and family on February 8, 2015, in Mesquite, Nevada. Jim was born in Hannibal, Missouri, on July 21, 1945 to William and Wanda Norton. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, William Norton, Jr. Jim graduated from Golden High School in Golden, Colorado, in 1963 where he excelled in baseball, football and wrestling. Jim worked for the Denver Rio Grande Western Railroad and the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad before he and his wife, Mary Jean (MJ), developed a successful construction and real estate company in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. After retirement, Jim and MJ settled in Mesquite in 2008 where Jim continued to sell real estate and enjoyed umpiring youth softball and baseball games.
Jim was an avid outdoors man enjoying boating, ATV riding and attending car shows. Other favorite hobbies included watching his grandchildren’s activities, rooting for his beloved New York Yankees, spending time with friends, and traveling with MJ.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Mary Jean (MJ), daughter Marne (Ted) Autobee, son James Norton, stepchildren John (Peg) Pietig, Carrie (Mike) Garcia, Angie (Kelly) Black, grandchildren Dylan and Alex Milyard; Lexis and Faith Norton; Danny and Jake Pietig; Nick, Braden, Katie, and Maddie Black; Sebastian and Tristen Garcia; Nicole Hughes; his two dogs, Abbey and Chelsea; and many special friends. The family would like to thank the care givers at Mesa View Hospice for the care they provided to Jim.
Funeral services will be Friday, February 13, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at Virgin Valley Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60611. Friends may call on the family following the services at 1323 Beehive Lane.