John Dale (Jack) Norris (April 24, 1941 – February 2, 2019)

John Dale (Jack) Norris (April 24, 1941 – February 2, 2019)

John Dale (Jack) Norris (April 24, 1941 - February 2, 2019)

ROCK SPRINGS — A Celebration of Life for John Dale (Jack) Norris, 77, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on July 10 in the auditorium at Rock Springs Junior High School (formerly White Mountain Junior High).

After the service, a meal will be served in the cafeteria. Jack passed away on February 2, 2019, in Sun City West, Arizona. Jack was born on April 24, 1941, in Greeley, Colorado, to Dale and Margaret Norris. He attended schools in La Salle, Colorado, and graduated from La Salle High School in 1959, where he played all sports.

He attended Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, on a basketball scholarship, where he played all four years. He graduated with a BA in 1963 and a MA in 1968.

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Jack married Pat Love on August 24, 1963, in Henderson, Nevada. Five days later they began their careers in Rock Springs with School District #1. Jack taught at Rock Springs High School in the Health and Science department for 12 years.

He was Assistant Basketball coach with Spiro Varras and he also started the boys golf team. Jack also taught Driver’s Ed in the summers. In the fall of 1975, Jack opened White Mountain Junior High as Principal. He loved that school and the faculty and students. He was there for 19 years.

In 1994, he was asked to be Assistant Superintendent. He kept that position for seven years, until retirement in 2001, having spent 38 years with the school district.

Jack was an avid golfer with several club championships, Senior club championships, and four “holes in one”. One of his fondest memories was being a gallery guard for six years at the Masters Tournament, then playing the course afterwards! Jack was also a 52 year Life Member of the Elks in both Rock Springs and Sun City, Arizona.

In 2016, Jack was inducted into the first Rock Springs High School Hall of Fame with Mr. Varras and all the basketball players from the 1971, 1972, 1973 State Championship basketball teams.

As he requested, cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be in a columbarium in Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Jack is survived by his wife Pat, of 55 ½ years; daughter, Keri (Andy) Mueller of Virginia; daughter, Lori (Lincoln) Blackman of North Carolina; son, Jay (Louise) Norris of Colorado; and sister Peggy (Duane) Holman of Colorado. He is also survived by seven grandchildren; Maurie, Hailey and Sophie Mueller, Claire and Lucy Blackman, and Matt and Jack Norris.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jack be made to Kari’s Access Awards, PO Box 1089, Rock Springs, WY 82901, or the charity of your choice.