Obituary of Dorothy Mae Hall

Dorothy Mae (Norris) Hall went to be with the Lord at home in Fulton, Missouri on December 31, 2019, and was surrounded by family. Dorothy was born on April 11, 1927 to Martha and Herman Norris in Salem Missouri. She was joined in marriage on December 22, 1945 to James Winford Hall, and to this union two children were born: Herman LeRay Hall of Fulton Missouri and Rita Kaye (Hall) Thurman of Boonville, Missouri. Dorothy was a hard-working, adventurous woman who had a fierce love of family and the Lord. She enjoyed collecting dolls, especially Barbies. Dorothy always worked hard for her family as a home maker making sure everyone was fed and needs were met. She placed an emphasis on the importance of higher education for her children. She also worked outside of the home and began her job at Rawlings Factory in August 1949. While working at the factory Dorothy sewed baseballs and worked her way up to the floor supervisor. She was involved in the production of the golden baseballs that were thrown out at the Cardinal’s games and the World Series. Dorothy had the experience of meeting Stan Musial when he visited the plant to see the production of the golden baseballs. Upon the closing of the Rawlings Plant Number 3 in Licking she helped with the successful relocation of the factory to Puerto Rico, and then began working at the Lee Clothing Factory in Houston Missouri until 1975. Dorothy and Wendy worked together to raise a herd of registered Angus cattle and continued to improve the Hall Angus farms. Dorothy inherited a love of horticulture from her father and enjoyed watching plants grow. Dorothy was a member of the First Baptist Church in Licking where she attended and taught Sunday school. She also participated in WMU. Dorothy was always up for an adventure and loved to travel. She was even known to ride roller coasters with her grandchildren. Dorothy also enjoyed hunting and fishing, and an occasional culinary delicacy of fried squirrel heads. She is survived by her children Herman Hall and wife Janey of Fulton, Missouri and daughter Rita Thurman of Boonville, Missouri; her brother Herman Norris Jr. and wife Donna of Wheatland, Missouri and sister Betty Ramsey of Springfield Missouri; grandchildren, Ellis Hall and wife Wren of Bolivar, Missouri, Heather (Hall) Hawn and husband Conway of Licking, Missouri, Lee Thurman and wife Melissa of Nixa, Missouri, and Victoria Sharp of Boonville, Missouri; great-grandchildren MacKenzie Hall, Emme Hall, Ryder Hall, Clifford Hawn, Christian Hawn, Hayden Thurman, Baylee Hash, Phallyn Sharp, and many nieces and nephews. She was a grandmother of the heart to Trey James, Shu-Ping Liu (Hope), Shu-Ching Kuo (Jocelyn) of Taiwan R.O.C., and Melody Seiger. Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years James Hall; parents Martha and Herman Norris, brothers Bill Norris and wife Norma, John Norris, Kenneth Norris, Carl Norris and wife Dorothy, Troy Norris and wife Melanie, and infant twins; sisters Bernice Emery and husband Alex and Glenda Green and husband Charles; and son-in-law Merrill Thurman. Services were held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 1:00 PM at the Fox Funeral Home in Licking Missouri with Dr. Ronald E. Baker and Rev. Guy Thomas of Fulton officiating. Visitation was held two hours prior beginning at 11:00 AM. Pallbearers were grandsons Ellis Hall and Lee Thurman; great grandsons Clifford Hawn, Ryder Hall, Hayden Thurman, and Christian Hawn. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dorothy’s name may be made to Union Cemetery (Norris Family Cemetery) c/o the Bank of Salem, Salem, Missouri. Online condolences may be left at www.foxfh.net.