James Kenneth Norris, 91, St. Paul, formerly of Erie, died Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.

He was born August 24, 1920, in St. Paul, to James and Leila Inman Norris. As a young boy, he grew up and attended schools in St. Paul and Erie.

In July of 1942, he was inducted into the United States Army where he served in the European Theater of World War II and, upon his honorable discharge, was awarded the Purple Heart.

He and Helen Marnell were married Jan. 3, 1946 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Walnut. Following marriage, they lived in the Erie area where they farmed and were Grade A dairy farmers until retiring in 1989. In 2006, the couple moved to St. Paul where they have lived since.

He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul and the Knights of Columbus, a life member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of the Gard Lee Post No. 292, American Legion, in Walnut, where he had served as district service officer and adjutant. For numerous years, he had also served on the Agricultural Soil Conservation Service Committee. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and, in earlier years, golfing.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Norris, Erie; five sons, Jim Norris and wife, Charlene,, Walnut, Nick Norris and wife, Janice, Grove, Okla., Chris Norris and wife, Mary Beth, Girard, Paul Norris and wife, Vickie, Pittsburg, Don Norris and wife, Kim, Erie; one daughter, Joan Doherty and husband, Mike, St. Paul; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Raymond Norris, Del City, Okla., Charles Norris, Austin, Texas, Harold Norris, Girard; three sisters, Lorraine Westhoff, Walnut, Loretta Guy, Las Cruces, N.M., Mildred Birzer, Ellinwood.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Bernard, Bill, and infant Hiram Norris.

The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 21 at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be in Fort Scott National Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, where the family will receive friends immediately following.

Memorials are suggested to Prairie Mission Retirement Village or the Walnut American Legion. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com