George Norris, Jr.

George Norris, Jr. passed away Sunday, July 15, 2012 at Brenham Nursing and Rehab Center in Brenham. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of William Penn, with Pastor Jeffrey King officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Born in Alvin, Texas on Feb. 14, 1941 to George C. Norris Sr. and Marion Ruth Tanner Norris, he was baptized as a child into the Christian faith. As an adult, he was later confirmed into the Lutheran faith at St. John''s Lutheran Church of Cypress by Rev. Ronald Damero. George was married to Lathel Lee Emshoff on Nov. 30, 1969 in Bethlehem Lutheran Church by Rev. Paul Hartfield. He worked in the structural steel business during his early career, and was employed at Longwood Elastomers, Inc. for the past 26 years. George loved raising and showing registered Red Poll cattle, exhibiting Red Polls for 52 years. This enabled him to be honored by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for his many years of participation. The American Red Poll Association also honored George for 50 years in the Red Poll business. He was the current president of the Texas Red Poll Association, where he was a board member and held many offices over the years. A love of working with area youth prompted him to annually donate a Red Poll heifer to an area 4-H member, based on essays written and submitted to George by youths from the area. Survivors include his wife, Lathel Emshoff Norris of Somerville; daughter and son-in-law, Kristy and Scott Fessenden of Leesburg, FL.; grandsons Fox and Phoenix Fessenden, of Leesburg, FL.; sister, Diane Miller of Lumberton; brother and sister-in-law Les and Marguerite Smith of Houston; mother-in-law, Johanna Emshoff and brother-in-law Daniel Emshoff, both of Brenham; brother-in-law Dr. William Murphy of Gainesville, FL.; niece, Suzanne Odom and husband James, of Kuntz; nephews Dr. Kevin King of Frisco, Matt and Karen King of Olive Branch, MS, as well as numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, George Sr. and Marion Ruth Tanner Smith, his sister, Barbara Murphy, father-in-law Herbert Emshoff, and a brother-in-law, Gordon Emshoff. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be directed to Bethlehem Lutheran Church of William Penn, or to the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements for George Norris, Jr. are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.