Phillip Edward Norvell's Obituary
Phillip Edward Norvell, 80, of Fayetteville, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 18th after a brief illness. The youngest child of Murvin Cecil and Bernice Norvell, Phillip was born in Oklahoma City, OK on October 28th, 1944. He graduated from Southeast High School in 1962 and attended the University of Oklahoma. After serving his country during the Vietnam War, he attended the University of Oklahoma School of Law. In 1975, Phillip joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he educated generations of Arkansas lawyers in Property, Oil and Gas, and Natural Resources law. He loved teaching, which he continued to do until his retirement as Professor in 2018 and as adjunct Professor Emeritus in 2023. While he is remembered fondly for his work as an inspiring legal educator, Phillip maintained a number of interests and hobbies, including tending to his garden, walking in the vicinity of his home on Mount Sequoyah, and supporting the Arkansas Razorbacks at football and baseball games. He was a prodigious reader and loved to travel, making regular trips to the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. Phillip was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers James E. Norvell, Mike Bolding, William R. Norvell, Robert C. Norvell, Cecil M. Norvell, his sisters Beverly Marie Norvell, Jeanne Turnpaugh, Louise Bennett, and Dorothy Basden, and by his nephew Todd Hutchings. Phillip is survived by his son, Matthew Norvell (Ping Chen), of Plano, TX, his daughter Sarah Norvell (Maks Adach) of New York, NY, and his grandsons Ethan and Nolan Norvell.
His funeral will be held at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 26th.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the University of Arkansas School of Law in memory of Professor Norvell.
Condolences may be given online at www.mooresfuneralchapel.com
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