Ronald Landy Norris

Ronald Landy Norris, Sr., of Owensboro died Saturday June 27, 2009 at his residence. He was born to Ralph and Hattie Brockett Norris on March 12, 1921, in Norris City, IL. The town was founded by his great-grandfather who migrated there from Eastern Tennessee in the 1860's. Ronald graduated from Norris City High School in 1939, and then enrolled at the University of Illinois. His tenure at the University was interrupted by three and a half years of service in the Air Force during World War II, during which he spent a year and a half in Great Britain. He was graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in petroleum geology. He chose to work in Owensboro, as a geologist for the Chester Oil Company and he also worked as a consulting geologist for the Kentucky Geological Survey and Har-Ken Oil.

He was a member of the Indiana-Kentucky Geological Society, the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association, the Independent Oil and Gas Resource Association, Settle Memorial Church and The Open Door Sunday School Class. He was also a registered engineer and geologist. His most notable achievement was the discovery of the New Hebbardsville Oil Field in 1978. The field has four pay zones and is still producing. He was an avid golfer and bridge player who had a passion for reading, vocabulary and palindromes. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Emily Norris and a brother, William D. Norris all of Norris City, IL.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty McKnight Norris, formerly of Dyer, TN; a son, R. Landy Norris, Jr. of Nashville, TN; a daughter, Jane Hayes Norris of Nashville, TN, a brother, Gerald B. Norris of Carmi, IL; an honorary granddaughter, Katie Janoski, and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on Wednesday, July 1, at 1 p.m. at Settle Memorial United Methodist Church. Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 30, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Glenn Funeral Home. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Settle Memorial United Methodist Church or to the Goodfellows Club.