Robert Lawrence Norris Jr's Obituary
Robert Lawrence Norris, Jr., age 78, of Yellville passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Fayetteville. He was born November 23, 1947, in Boston to Robert Lawrence and Mary Frances Worster Norris. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife of 51 years, Kathryn Gail Gesner Norris; and his brother, Richard Norris.
Bob is survived by his four daughters and their spouses, Tara (Norris) Bolin and Paul Bolin, Hannah (Norris) Pearce and Solomon Pearce, Emmaline (Norris) Smyth and Jim Mancuso, and Mary Norris; his niece, Hilda Norris; seven grandchildren, Lauren Cowgur, Logan Cowgur Misenheimer, Volney Cowgur, Cassidy Milligan, Garion Milligan, Rowan Rodezno, and Arlo Rodezno; one great-grandchild, Barrett Misenheimer; one great-niece, Lilly Scire; two great-nephews, Nate and Dante Scire; and three step-grandchildren, Moana Mancuso, and Fiona and Sebastian Pearce.
Bob graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Arts degree and went on to pursue a career in photography. He married Gail Gesner on a snowy day, March 14 of 1970, beginning a partnership and adventure that would shape the rest of their lives together.
After starting their family in Massachusetts, Bob and Gail purchased land deep in the pine forests of Maine. While still living in Massachusetts, Bob began building the family’s home there by hand, eventually moving his young family into the first of two homes he would construct himself over the course of his life. In Maine, Bob and Gail built a life rooted in hard work, self-sufficiency, and a deep connection to the natural world. Together they tended an enormous vegetable garden and raised sheep for wool, chickens for eggs, pigs, turkeys, along with a steady rotation of cats and dogs.
Bob loved the rhythms of homestead life. Summers were spent gardening, building intricate rock walls from the granite he unearthed while shaping the land, and driving his tractor deep into the woods to harvest firewood that kept the stove burning through long Maine winters. The family attended Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Pittsfield where Bob served as a member of the Knights of Columbus. Time spent with his brother Rick and niece Hilda, whether on a beach vacation or snowshoeing through the Maine woods, brought him particular joy and remained among his most treasured memories.
Eventually, Bob moved his family to Northwest Arkansas where he worked for many years as a self-employed commercial photographer. Life in Arkansas marked a dramatic change from the rugged forests of the Northeast, but Bob found new passions there as well. A lifelong lover of history, he spent several years participating in Civil War reenactments alongside friends who shared his interests.
After retirement, Bob and Gail traveled extensively in search of the next place they might call home, exploring Colorado and the Northeast before ultimately returning to Arkansas. In Yellville, they purchased land overlooking the Ozark mountains, where Bob began building the second home he would create with his own hands. Together they built a quiet sanctuary surrounded by gardens, trees, and the beauty of the natural landscape they loved so deeply.
After Gail’s passing in 2021, Bob stepped beyond his usual comfort zone and embraced new friendships and renewed interests. He became active in local yoga classes and devoted himself to becoming a Certified Arkansas Master Naturalist in the North Central Arkansas Chapter, NCAMN. He volunteered regularly with NCAMN for Trail Patrol and Stream Team which worked to preserve north central Arkansas hiking trails and monitor streams within the White River watershed. He was also an active participant with the Arkansas Archeology Society.
Bob will be remembered for his intelligence, artistry, quiet wit, independence, and deep appreciation for nature, as well as his excellent taste in music, especially the folk singers of his generation. He was always willing to share his honest advice and knowledge, fiercely protective of his family, and proud of the life he built so intentionally with his own hands.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Pinnacle Memorial Gardens under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home.
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