James Archie Norris

James Archie Norris, 71, died Friday, May 16, 2008 at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Mr. Norris was a native of Sullivan County and had lived most of his life in Washington County. He was a son of the late Buck and Millie Tester Norris and was preceded in death by one sister, Vivian White. Mr. Norris was a retired US Air Force Master Sgt and a former employee of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the US Postal Service. He was a member of Keystone Free Will Baptist Church, the Rhea Masonic Lodge#47 and was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. Survivors include his wife, Lois Thompson Norris; one daughter, Cindy Norris Smith and her husband, Michael, Johnson City; two grandchildren, Susan and Christin Smith, Johnson City; three sisters, Willa Vines and her husband Marshall, Lydia Gamble and Patsy Rankin all of Johnson City and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service for James A. Norris will be conducted at 8 PM Monday, May 19, 2008 at Keystone Free Will Baptist Church. Reverend Bill Greer and Reverend Tony Birchfield will officiate. A Masonic service conducted by the Rhea Masonic Lodge will immediately precede the funeral service. Military graveside services will be held at 2 PM Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at Mountain Home National Cemetery. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home at 1:30 PM and travel in procession to the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Mike Street, Ron Street, Howard Jamerson, Ed Douglas, Kenny Douglas, James Hardesty, David Feathers and Roger Feathers. Honorary pallbearers will be Regina Proffitt, Christy Harrell and the nursing staff of Amedisys Home Health Care. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Monday at the church.