Norman Walker, age 84, of Warrensburg, Missouri passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
Norman, 84, son of James Archie Walker and Marjorie Lou Dougherty Walker, was born June 29, 1939 in Aurora, Missouri. Two sisters followed; Kathyrn Sue and Sally Ann.
Norman grew up with a strong work ethic and devoted desire to help others by being a productive young man himself. His early jobs included sacking groceries and stocking shelves at Krogers, and various chores involved with family and friends’ Victory Gardens and farms. During the summers Norman worked with his family to run mess tents and cook for the Cross Country Trail Ride. Norman was always willing to share his knowledge and experience with others.
Norman graduated from Owensville High School in 1958 and received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Methodist College at Fayette, Missouri in 1963.
While attending college, Norman met the love of his life, Carolyn Sue Calhoun and they wed in 1963, going on to have two children, Steven Mark and Julia Lynn.
Norman continued to work as a teacher in Hermann and Owensville Missouri teaching Social Studies, Citizenship, and Missouri History. A few years later he joined Carolyn’s family in running Calhoun Farms which included an egg hatchery, a farm, and a mill in Montrose, Missouri.
In 1974 Norman and Carolyn opened Town and Country Auto and Tractor Supply in Nevada, Missouri. Later, they added a used car dealership. In 1990 Norman leveraged his extensive farm and poultry experience to work for USDA as a grader of eggs, poultry products, and associated items. He was particularly proud to play a part in the quality and safety of products for school lunch programs of several states. Norman retired from USDA for the final time in 2020 having served as a Grader for over 27 years.
Norman was widely known as an avid storyteller with a penchant for family and Missouri history. He shared stories, often digressing to add to the story’s background, of the many members of his large family, along with the one he married into. A road trip with Norman was typically a series of stories about the historical and personal significance of nearly any area of Missouri History.
Norman is survived by his wife Carolyn of the home; two sisters Kathyrn Sue Walker Coleman of Kansas City, Missouri and Sally Ann Walker Garten of Davenport, Florida; two children, Steven Walker and wife, Marietta, of Warrensburg, Missouri, and Julia McCaffree and husband, Mike, of Nevada, Missouri; seven grandchildren Caleb Thorns and wife Amy of Higginsville, Missouri; Shelby Clark and husband Austin of Springfield, Missouri; Madilyn McCaffree of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Caroline McCaffree of Chicago, Illinois; and Allison McCaffree of Nevada, Missouri; Shannon Moore of Warrensburg, Missouri; and Bradley Chambers of Kansas City, Missouri; two great-grandchildren, Maddox and Oliver Thorns of Higginsville, Missouri; and one sister-in-law, Betty Calhoun Lane and husband Robert of Clinton, Missouri, numerous nieces and nephews, John Lane, Susan Boden and husband, Wayne, Angela Coleman and husband, Shaune McFarlane, Brad Coleman and wife Jennifer, Judy Ulshafer and husband, Michael, Betty Aardema, James Calhoun, Andrew Garten and wife Evellyn, several great nieces and nephews: Zach Lane; Zoey and Sebastian Coleman; Callie, Jackson and Makenzie DeCorte; Kaitelyn Wiebe; Austin Aardema; Tyler Calhoun; Hannah Boden; Harrison Boden; Andre, Julia, and Lara Garten.
Funeral services were held January 22, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Rev. David Mills officiating. Special music included “Take Me Home Country Roads, I’ll Fly Away and Old Rugged Cross.” The casket bearers were Caleb Thorns, Austin Clark, Wayne Boden, Maddox Thorns, Brad Chambers, John Lane and Zach Lane. Interment followed in Montrose Cemetery, Montrose, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
