Norman C. Preston

Norman Claire Preston was born on Wednesday, the 16th of March in 1921, on the Century Farm owned by his father. He was the first born child to Harry Edwin and Mary Alice (Haering) Preston. Norman was 23 inches long. The longest, skinniest baby the doctor had ever delivered. The family lived five miles from Lenox, Iowa and attended church at the Christian Church in Lenox. Norman had ponies the entire time he lived on the farm. He had Boots and Baby Doll, but his favorite was Tony, who was often the transportation to The Grove Number One country school in Taylor County. The school was closest to his grandparents’ house, and he remembered spending bad winter days or weeks at his grandparents when the school was closed. Following eighth grade graduation, Norman attended Lenox High School. He was very thankful for his time and Lenox High, as his teachers helped him to become the man he wanted to be. In 1939, Norman graduated high school and hitchhiked a ride to Maryville, Missouri with Mr. Calvin (who was taking cattle to St. Joseph) to attend a football camp. He was fortunate and received a N.Y.A. grant that helped him with tuition to attend Northwest Missouri State Teachers College.

College did not come easy for Norman, but he stuck with his studies, majoring in education and industrial arts. He made lifelong friends at college as well as met a beautiful and smart young woman, Nancy “Jeanne” Huffman who became his wife on August 16, 1943. Due to WWII, Norman signed up in the Enlisted Reserve Corp hoping to stay in college until he received his degree. However, that same year, Norman was called to active duty by United States Army. He served in the Army Coast Artillery and was assigned to the South Pacific as a Radar Technician and Communication Technology Sergeant. After his discharge from the Army in 1946, Norman continued his education and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Industrial Arts Education in the summer of 1946.

He taught Industrial Arts in high school for six years. During summers, Norman attended the University of Missouri and the University of Arkansas. In 1955, he received a Master’s of Science degree in Vocational Education. At that time, he resigned his teaching position as it was required that he have four years of industrial work experience to teach Vocational Education and his farm experience would not substitute. Norman became employed by the Ford Motor Company as a sheet metal instructor at the new facility that was constructed to build B27 bomber wings for the Boeing Aircraft Company. When their contract was completed, he gained employment with the Butler Manufacturing Company as an Industrial Engineer. After five years, he left Butler Manufacturing and was employed by the Bendix Corporation as a sheet metal supervisor. After several years, Norman transferred to the computer systems department as a Systems Analyst. During his fourteen years at Bendix, he became interested in the city of Liberty, Missouri and was elected City Ward Councilman for eight years.

In 1971, the American economy was poor and since Bendix was a prime contractor for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, funds were cut and Norman was out of work. He was once again fortunate and was appointed chairman of the Mechanical Technology Department for Penn Valley Metropolitan Junior College which was completing a new campus complex in Kansas City. At that complex, Norman taught metal fabrication, welding and drafting.

During their working years, Jeanne and Norman raised three sons, Jon, Mark, and Philip. They retired in 1982 and spent their remaining years traveling the country in their Airstream Trailer and spending time with their grandchildren.

Norman is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Jeanne. He is survived by his three sons, Jon and wife Gwen, Mark and wife Penny, and Philip and his wife Sheryl.

Friends may visit on Friday the 12th of May from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Church-Archer-Pasley Funeral Home, 119 East Franklin Street, Liberty, Missouri. Funeral Service is to be conducted on Saturday, the 13th of May at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 138 North Main Street, Liberty, Missouri. Interment with military honors will follow the service, at approximately 1:30 p.m. in East Fairview Cemetery, Lenox, Iowa.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to First Presbyterian Church, 138 North Main Street, Liberty, Missouri 64068. Fond memories and condolences may be left online for the family at www.churcharcherpasley.com.