Norman Dale Brown Sr.

Norman Dale Brown, Sr., age 90, of Dayton, Texas, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, entered into eternal rest on October 4, 2025 and no doubt heard his Lord and Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Norman was born January 18, 1935, on the top floor of his grandparents’ boarding house in Dayton. When he was 11, the family moved to San Marcos, where they owned and operated the Carroll Hotel. He graduated from high school in San Marcos in 1953 and attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University). While working at Miller’s Drug Store during his college years, Norman met and fell in love with Martha Joe Hale, whom he married in 1955 and remained devoted to for the next 63 years.

The newlyweds lived in Pasadena and Nederland in the early years while their family grew to include four children, and moved back to Dayton in 1966. Norman worked for Baroid and Shell and spent many years working in the chemical industry for Gulf Oil and Chevron Chemical Company in Baytown, the Netherlands, and South Korea. He retired from Chevron in 1992 and formed a consulting company relating to Process Safety Management.

Norman consistently lived out his faith through acts of service to others. He served as Liberty County Commissioner from 2004 until 2016, where he was instrumental in stewarding responsible and ethical growth and development in Dayton, putting people before profits always. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Trinity Valley Exposition (TVE) in Liberty for four years, served on several committees related to the TVE livestock show, and was a Deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Dayton.

As much as Norman enjoyed giving back to his community, his most cherished role was that of “Papaw” to his 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. To his grandchildren he was a champion storyteller, skilled pancake shape maker, tireless 4-H and FFA livestock project helper, crazy-legged dance partner, and so much more—but no memory shines brighter in their hearts than his role as their gentle, loving, and ever-present Papaw.

Norman was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Kimmie Brown; wife, Martha Hale Brown; son, Dale Brown; sister, Charlene Montee; granddaughter, Erin Westmoreland; two sons-in-law, Gary Westmoreland and Troy Baker; and daughter-in-law, Michele Boyer Brown.

He is survived by three daughters: Nancy Baker of Liberty, Jo Riley (Randy) of Dayton, and Susan Addington (Brett) of Dayton; 12 grandchildren and their spouses: Melissa Norcross Wolf (Ryan), Stephanie Norcross Stanley (Bret), Megan Baker Matula (Sean), Josh Brown (Adrianna), Mollie Baker Walker (Brandon), Ryan Baker (fiancée Megan Lutz), Travis Addington (Ryan), Jessica Brown Bevel (Jason), Randi Kay Riley Jordan (Josh), Morgan Riley Choate (Taylor), Scarlett Addington McCarty (Jacob), and Sam Addington; and 26 great-grandchildren with one more on the way—all of whom will miss him dearly.

The family would like to thank Candice Butler and the staff at Rosemont Assisted Living and Memory Care for their loving care of Norman through the years.