Ann Efird Norton

On February 24, 2017 at approximately 4:20 pm, Ann Efird Mason Norton of Indian Trail NC went to be with the Lord. One of the greatest women that has ever graced us with her her glory, kindness, and big wonderful smile. She was surrounded by her children and told us all she was ready to give her life to God. Ann was born in Charlotte, NC on July 14, 1936. She was educated in Charlotte City Schools and was the first class to graduate from Myers Park High School in ’54. She continued her education at Duke University. She received a BA degree in Business from Duke in ’58 and was one of the first women to receive a business degree from Duke. She was the business manager of the Duke CHRONICLE her senior year. Ann married Robert Dillard Norton on June 2, 1962. After starting their family in Charlotte, they moved with their two young children to Memphis, TN. She always told the story about being in the hospital when Martin Luther King Jr was shot and brought to the hospital. She was escorted by security to a hotel across the street to recover. Always near excitement without even trying seemed to be Ann’s life. In the early 70s, they moved to Jonesboro, AR and expanded their family with a third child, Andy. Ann and her husband started Ne-Ark Machinery Co and Handy Andy Industries. Once her mother was visiting and asked why her house was so messy. Ann replied, “I didn’t get a degree from Duke to clean houses!” That was Ann’s humor. In the mid 80’s, Ann and her family moved back to Charlotte to help with her mother and here is where she wanted to live out her life. She has always enjoyed music and dancing. She loved to dance and she always lead when dancing and stepped on Bob’s toes, but he still made them look like they were the top dawgs on the dance floor. Later she enjoyed visits to New Orleans to see her son and her grand children and also to go to Pat O’Brien’s to hear the dualing piano players play and help them sing all the songs, especially college fight songs. She always enjoyed traveling to see her other grand kids as they moved around the country. She was very pleased how they all have grown up into wonderful people. We are all going to miss that wonderful voice she had and those strange words she would come up with for real words, or that ever knowing ability to make us laugh when we were sad. An example of this is the morning after Hugo hit in ’89 when the fire department drove through the neighborhood to check on everyone’s safety. She made them stop and let her get on the back bumper of the fire engine and rode ringing the bell on the back ,which at first was really embarrassing, but it made everyone go from crying in disbelief due to the storm quickly to laughing and realizing we are all still alive and life goes on. That was one of the many things we loved about Ann ( Mom, Grannie Annie). Ann was preceeded in death by her parents E. Lowell Mason & May Gray Efird Mason, Robert Norton, husband. She is survived by her children, Bob Jr. (Penny Beam), Kelley Gray Rusnak (Patrick Rusnak), Andy ( Marianne Lewis) and six grandchildren ( Celia Ann and Mia Norton, Francis, Gigi, Mason & Brian Rusnak) and 3 step grandchildren ( Jason, Jesse and Taylor Williams ) and 2 step great grandchildren ( Nathan Williams & Jaxon Reed Mcleod ). Together we will carry with us the memories she created in our presence. God Bless you ANN EFIRD MASON NORTON We are forever GRATEFUL and always know that our love for YOU won’t fade away as YOU rise up on the shaft of light to the paradise in the sky, We know you are going to SHINE!!! The family has given the privilege and honor to the Lowe Neddo family to care for Ann. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel of the the Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home 4715 Margaret Wallace Rd. Matthews. Friday March 17th, at 11:00am. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00am until the time of service. Ann will be buried next to her husband in the Salisbury National Cemetery.

Ann Efird Norton

July 14, 1936 - February 24, 2017