Norman Darrell Montgomery

Norman Darrell Montgomery commenced his journey on the 11th day of November in the year 1952. Born at Hutzel Women’s Hospital in Detroit. Norman was the third son of Lilton and Dorothy Montgomery. He was introduced to his elder siblings Marshall and Terry, and within nine years, three more brothers, Delbert, Lilton II, and Brad. Norman earned his diploma from Detroit’s Northern High School in the year 1970. He resumed his education in the year 2000, enrolling at Henderson State University and completing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. Norman worked many trades in his lifetime. A clerk at Detroit Edison, master scuba diver, a crewmember on a river towboat, water technician at a timber mill, tractor-trailer driver, and entrepreneur were just some of his professions. His instinct was to do his own thinking and chart his own course, wherever it led. He never stopped planning his next big venture. Norman was wise. A student of history, he could recite each word of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. He thought of one day writing his own book. He knew the world well. When asked how to navigate the journey of life, Norman offered his wisdom, “Respect and discipline. That will guide you through.” Norman was resilient. He stumbled many times throughout his life; but when he fell, he always got up stronger than before. He simply didn’t believe in calling it quits. He never did. When asked about his resilience, Norman was frank, “I’ll take a break. I’ll feel sorry for myself, and I’ll get tough again.” Norman was a fighter. He didn’t back down from anyone or anything. The bigger the challenge, the harder he fought. He earned the nickname “Tiger” in his childhood. He was tenacious. He was tougher than most. He was resilient. And he was wise. In the late summer of the year 2017, Norman was diagnosed with cancer. And while much was uncertain at the time, two things were not. No matter the opponent, he wouldn’t back down from the fight, and no matter how difficult, he wouldn’t give up. He never did. Norman concluded his journey on the 8th day of January in the year 2020, in the company of his brothers Delbert and Brad in North Little Rock, Arkansas. With Norman, there was hardly a dull moment. Somehow and someway, he managed to make the mundane just a little more exciting. It was a running joke in the family that “Norm had nine lives.” He did. And he used every one of them. When asked how his own life would be remembered, Norman summed it up in seven words. “I was wild, but I wasn’t crazy.” Norman joins his father Lilton David Montgomery and brother Marshall Montgomery in eternal rest. He bids farewell to his mother Dorothy Montgomery, son Roman (Latalia) Montgomery, brothers Terrence (Debra) Montgomery, Delbert Montgomery, Lilton Damon Montgomery, and Brad Montgomery, sister-in-law Sunee Montgomery along with his grandson, Kaiden Sharpe and a host of nieces and nephews and family and friends.