Robert Gary Norton

Robert Gary Norton, 69, owner of R & R Distributing Company, Inc., died Thursday, June 16, 2016 at his residence on Darks Mill Road. Visitation will be Saturday from 3:00 - 6:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. A private family graveside services will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery.The family suggests memorials to New Life Baptist Church, 1507 Gravel Hill Road, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born January 4, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Robert Burton Norton and Bernice Steely Norton. He was a 1965 graduate of Columbia Central High School and served in the Tennessee National Guard. An avid horseman, he raised and bred quarter horses and was a lifelong member of the TQHA, AQHA, and National Cutting Horse Association. Mr. Norton was a hard worker and loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was a member of New Life Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, whom he married February 2, 1974, Marilyn Webster Norton of Columbia; daughter, Tiffany Maxine (Jimmy) Dobbins of Nashville; son, Robert Burton "Rob" (Becca) Norton, II of Columbia; grandchildren, Ryan Dobbins, Grant Dobbins, Maddie Norton, MaryBeth Norton, Grace Handschug, and Emilee Handschug; sister, Janet (George) Nunn of Perry, GA; and brother, Ronnie (Linda) Norton of Columbia.Active pallbearers will be Rob Norton, Chad Roland, Ricky Webster, Mike Webster, Jimmy Dobbins, John Williams, Louis Holloway, and Tony Sowell.