Rev. Norman D. Patton

  Rev. Norman D. Patton walked into the arms of his Savior November 25, 2023.

  Norman was born to James Cain Patton and Bessie Maude (Mayhall) Patton in Hamlin, Texas, on August 26, 1939, and was raised in Sylvester, Texas and Sweetwater, Texas, graduating from Sweetwater High School, in 1958.

  Norman attended McMurry College (now McMurry University), South Plains College, and graduated from Texas Tech University, in 1981, with a bachelor’s degree in counseling. He attended seminary classes from Perkins School of Theology, and in 1996 he was ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church.

  Norman surrendered to preach as a teenager becoming a clergy in the Methodist church, and serving numerous Methodist congregations between 1959 and his retirement in 2005.

  During his years of local church ministry, Norman was active in the Emmaus ministry, particularly in Kairos, an Emmaus ministry outreach to men and women in prison.

  For his work in revitalizing small membership churches in the Northwest Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Norman was awarded the Harry Denman Evangelism Award in 1992.

  Norman married Carolyn Ruth Hurt on June 22, 1962, in Shep Methodist Church. They served in ministry together 61 years, raising four children – Melissa, Kerry, Michelle, and Jeff, who live now to love and serve their Lord Jesus as their parents did.

  Norman is survived by his wife, Carolyn Patton; sister, Dorthy Miller of Rapid City, SD; four children, Melissa Nugent (Tommy) of Bedford, IN, Kerry (Laura) of Weatherford, TX, Michelle Williams (David) of Greenville, TX, and Jeff (Denise) of Dallas, TX; twelve grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

  Norman was preceded in death by his parents, James Cain and Bessie (Mayhall) Patton; sister and brother-in-law, Velma and Ray Forbes; brother and sister-in-law, Milton and Geneva (Carter) Patton; brother-in-law, Lyle Miller; nephew, Lonnie Forbes; and nephew, Roy Miller.

  “If our Dad could stand at the door of Heaven and look back to make one final statement, we believe it might be this: ‘If you have not heard, Jesus loved you so much that he gave his life as payment for your sins. Please, believe on him and be saved.’”