Dorothy Faye Butler Norton, 80, passed away at her home in Ocean City, Maryland. She was a native of Dahlonega and the daughter of the late Harry McConnell Butler and Sallie Saine Butler. Dorothy was predeceased by her four brothers, Willie, Horace, Shorty, and Herman Butler, and one sister, Fannie Mae Butler Sherrill. As per her wishes, she was cremated.
Dottie, her nickname, went to Lumpkin County Schools until the 11th grade and quit to get married. She married a Ranger and left Dahlonega in her rear-view mirror. She hated our small town and growing up here. Her vision was for bigger and better things. She married Captain James W. Napier, III and to this marriage two children were born: Helen Jamelle Napier and James W. Napier, IV. The second time around she found the right person, Robert Duncan Norton, Jr. Bob is from Boston and imagine that accent coming into little Dahlonega and us Southerners trying to understand him. He passed all the tests the brothers threw at him and we all fell in love with Bob. He helped Dottie raise Jamelle and Jimmy and took good care of my sister during their 49 years of marriage. August 3rd, 2024 would have been their 50 th anniversary.
Dot and Bob lived in Fairfax Station, Virginia until recently when they moved to Ocean City, Maryland. Dottie had a stroke in August, 2023 as a result of a catheterization to check on a heart problem and during this procedure something went wrong which caused her to have a stroke. She spent a month in rehab and was gaining some mobility but things were never the same. It’s hard to recover from a stroke of this magnitude, but she gave it her best for 8 months.
Dottie leaves behind her loving husband of 49 years, Bob Norton. Daughter, Jamelle Showell. Son and daughter in law, Jim and Laurie Napier. Grandchildren: Adam Showell, Sarah Ann Showell, Hannah Showell Purnell and twins Olivia Rae and Julia Rose Napier. Three great grandchildren: John Henry Showell, Maxwell Lockhart Showell and Harper Lee Purnell. Two sisters in Georgia, Lorene Lee, Cumming, Georgia and Bobbie Butler, Dahlonega. Also, numerous nieces and nephews and a best friend from Dahlonega, Elease Burnett, more affectionally known as “Weezer.” We had many, many good times at the beach in Emerald Isle, North Carolina.
I hope my sister is in a peaceful place with no pain as she suffered throughout her life with different problems which were mostly related to car accidents.
To her grandchildren: “Nannie’s” legacy will live on in each of you as she surrounds each of you with all of her love. You have a life of memories made with your Nannie. Keep them close to your hearts forever. Even though our world is so dark right now, we pray that soon we all can see some light from the good memories we had with Dorothy Faye Butler Norton.
