Jeffrey David "Jeff" Norton

CASA GRANDE - Jeffrey David "Jeff" Norton, 64, died on March 14, 2019, at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center.

Mr. Norton was born on Jan. 20, 1955, in Concordia, Kansas, and was a son of James and Jolene Norton. In 1959 the family moved to Syracuse, Kansas. He graduated from Syracuse High School in 1973 and attended Fort Hays State University, graduating in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He became a Farm Bureau special agent in Syracuse. Having been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis arthritis at a young age, he moved to the dry, warmer climate of Arizona in 1980 and worked several jobs in the agricultural industry.

In 1997 he started working for Kett Engineering at the automotive testing facility for Volkswagen of America in Maricopa. He retired in 2015 and purchased a home in Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort in Casa Grande, where he lived until his death. He loved adventure and enjoyed travel and visiting friends and family. Early on he had a passion for dirt bikes and dune buggies. He was a great story-teller and would entertain everyone with anecdotes of his escapades and interesting people he knew.

He lived life to his fullest capacity, never complaining about the debilitating disease that was slowly immobilizing him. He made friends wherever he went.

Survivors include two sisters, Christine Good of Tiffin, Ohio, and Jenny Schwieterman of Syracuse; a brother, Craig Norton of Syracuse; eight nieces and nephews; and 13 great-nieces and -nephews.

Celebration of life at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, at Hamilton County Veterans Memorial Building in Syracuse, with the Rev. Bill Roberts officiating. Reception following. Inurnment in Syracuse Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Syracuse Sand Dunes Park, c/o City of Syracuse, P.O. Box 148, Syracuse, KS 67878, or Spondylitis Association of America, 16360 Roscoe Blvd., Suite 100, Van Nuys, CA 91406 (www.spondylitis.org).

Condolences may be sent to: P.O. Box 1230, Syracuse, KS 67878.