Pastor Dennis K. Norton

Pastor Dennis K. Norton, 66 of Aledo, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 26, 2025, at his home. Funeral services, with Military Honors, will be Saturday, August 2nd at 3:00 PM at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo, with visitation beginning at 1:00 PM. Memorials may be made to Donate Life, in honor of Dennis’ lung transplant.

Dennis Kevin Norton was born on May 1, 1959, in Texas to Donald & Joyce (Shepperd) Norton, while his father was in the service. Dennis grew up in Bunker Hill, Illinois, where he still holds the school pole vault record. He served his country in the United States Army. Dennis married Linda Gray on October 5, 1984, in Springfield, Illinois.

Dennis loved Jesus and enjoyed teaching the gospel as a Pastor in the Southern Baptist Faith. He started at Joy Baptist Church, where he was ordained. He then served churches in Pawnee, Gibson City, Alexis and Orion. In earlier years, Dennis was a deputy sheriff for Mercer County and worked construction with Laborers’ Local Union #309, from where he retired.

Dennis loved his family and loved helping people, so much that he and Linda fostered over 150 children. He enjoyed teaching all his children about the Lord, baking banana bread with them, and teaching them woodworking and hunting. Dennis could build or fix anything. He was someone who enjoyed life and kept his faith through good times and bad. He loved to sing, even though he couldn’t’ carry a tune and loved to dance in the kitchen, or anywhere else to embarrass Linda. Dennis would talk to anyone, loved to take a lot of pictures and especially enjoyed lap time with his canine companions, Poppy and Yona.

Dennis’ legacy of love and faith will be carried on by his wife, Linda; children: Mindy Warren and Jamie Barks; Kathy Jo, Lindsay, Matthew, and Brantley Norton; grandchildren: Trenten & Kendra Murphy; Valeri & Dakota Talbot and Jesse Lee Warren; Great-grandchildren: Odinn & Dallas Talbot and Jaxon & Kaylynn Murphy; Siblings: Babette Moorleghen, Ria Heinemeier and Donald Norton, Jr. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Lorraine Picard, Lisa Reedy, Loyal Norton and David Norton.