Henry Clay Norman, Jr. was born on July 5, 1923 in Roscommon County, Michigan and passed away on April 21, 2018 at the Brooksville Healthcare Center. He was a resident of Spring Hill, Florida and is survived by his wife of 55 years, Shirley Jeanette (Henderson) Norman; his son, Paul Norman and daughter-in-law Laura (Fenimore) Norman, and four granddaughters, Katie, Sarah, Gracie and Lila; and his brother Russ Norman.
Clay grew up in Flint, MI, and later on a 160 acre farm in Harrison, MI with 8 brothers and sisters. He graduated from Harrison High School in 1942. After graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corp on December 11, 1942. He served with the 2nd Marine Division in the south Pacific at the battles of Tarawa, Saipan, and Tinian. He was wounded twice in battle and received the Purple Heart as well as a Presidential Unit Citation.
Near the end of the war, he was assigned to guard President Roosevelt in Warm Spring, GA. before the president passed away in April 1945. Later he would go on to serve as a security analyst for over 2 decades with the National Security Agency in Ft. Meade, Maryland until he retired. He was a loving, giving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. He enjoyed life on the farm, playing baseball and softball. He loved playing checkers. He particularly loved attending sporting events and watching the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings. Of course, he loved the Marine Corp and other service members in the armed forces. He and his wife Jeanette regularly attended the Spring Hill Baptist Church where they served as greeters and were involved in various small groups. Clay was also an active supporter and life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the Marine Corp League of Spring Hill.
