Funeral services were held from the Christian Church Saturday morning for John Edward Norton, 82-year-old farmer who passed away Wednesday afternoon, October 3, at his farm home five miles southeast of Protection. Services were conducted by the Rev. Charles Schweitzer of Moscow, Kans., a former neighbor of the Nortons. He was assisted by Bill Temple of the local Christian Church.Roy Selzer, Raymond Sommerfeld, Truman Selzer and Vernon Loucks sang "Nearer to the Heart of God," "Beyond the Sunset" and "We Shall Gather at the River." Mrs. Earl Christopher was the organist.
Pallbearers were: Ora Baker, Ralph Baker, Chester Baker, Crist Beyler, Robert Wimmer and Melvin Thornhill. Honorary bearers were Eli Harbaugh, A. L. Christopher, Frank Rainbolt, Claude Rowland, Fred Denney and Leroy Smith.
Interment was in the Protection cemetery.
OBITUARY John Edward Norton, youngest child of John Love and Edith Exona Norton was born March 28, 1874, at Elkland, Missouri, and departed this life at his home near Protection, Kansas, October 3 at 4:20 p.m. at the age of 82 years, 6 months and 5 days.
At the age of 16 he came to Clairmore, Okla., where he worked for three years, and then he went to California where he worked for a lumber company in the red woods for many years. In 1914 he returned to Elkland, his childhood home and on February 28, 1915 he was united in marriage to Rose Wingo, also of Elkland.
To this union six children were born: Nellie, Norman, Marjorie, Billy, and Jerry and Jean, infant twins who died at birth.
Ed, as he was known by young and old, loved all growing things especially trees and birds. He loved to attend Sunday School. At the age of 51 he made the great surrender and let Jesus come into his heart to reign and rule and became a member of the Christian Church at Protection where he remained faithful until death.
He was a loving husband and father and here his suffering with all patience, never complaining. He leaves to mourn his death, his wife Rose; his children: Mrs. Gay Lindsay and Mrs. Byron Baker of Protection, Norman of Lordsburg, N. Mex., and Billy of Greensburg, Kans.; and seven grandchildren.
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