SCOTTIE NORRELL, 75, of Blossom, passed from this life Friday April 26, 2013 at his residence, following a courageous battle from cancer treatment for the past three years. Starrett Funeral Home will conduct a service of celebration, honor and memory at 6:30 pm, Thursday May 2, 2013 at Southside Baptist Church in Paris, with Rev. Billy Norris officiating. Special friends serving as eulogists are Bobby Harrell, Rick Easterwood, Ken Dillard and Mike Gose.

Scottie was born December 18, 1937 at the old Sanitarium of Paris Hospital. He was the youngest of three boys born to Albert Franklin and Ocie Viola Johnston Norrell. Affectionately known as “Mr. Archery of Lamar County,” he was the first person to organize an Archery Club in Paris in 1958, founding the Red River Valley Bowmen, now known as Archers for Christ. He was then instrumental in getting the first Archery Deer Season in Lamar and Red River Counties, originally a mere five days, but expanding in later years. He was active in the promotion of Archery in the Paris area. In 1958 he began to sell Archery equipment to friends and fellow archers. In 1962 he opened his first archery shop in Blossom, operating it at night and on weekends until 1972, then he took the business full time when he moved it to Hwy 82 East and added a bait shop. Then in 1986 he purchased a convenience store on FM 79, and named it “Scotties.” The business grew at a rapid pace, and he expanded to sporting goods, bait and tackle, and various other items relative to outdoor sports, he sold the business in 1998. His retirement followed forty years of selling archery equipment and supplies and Scottie was well known throughout the Red River Valley for his knowledge and expertise. He learned the art of mounting deer horns and European skull mounts at a very young age, and provided this service to many hunters through the years, both bow and gun, continuing this art for over sixty years. He was an avid hunter, taking over forty-seven deer with a bow and arrow, as well as Elk, Feral Hogs, Gar, Carp, and other small game. He took great joy in teaching his children Shawn and Regina to hunt and fish, taking them along with him on many trips. One of his greatest joys was fishing with friends, chief among them Johnny Stout, a fishing companion of many years. His dear friend Bobby Harrell was his hunting buddy for over forty years. Later, he introduced his son-in-law Ronnie Melton to archery and they were hunting comrades locally, as well as excursions to the Rocky Mountains. Scottie loved the mountains and their lakes and streams, and was an excellent trout fisherman. He also loved gardening and for years after his retirement had a five acre field of “pick your own peas” on his beloved farm. The knowledge of archery, hunting & gardening he takes with him is priceless.

In addition to his parents, Scottie was preceded in death by two brothers, Curtis Norrell and George Norrell

Scottie is survived by his soulmate and caregiver, Verline Wilburn; a son, Shawn Norrell, of Blossom; daughter Regina Melton and husband Ronnie, of Paris; grandchildren Raelee Melton, of Paris, Mindy Shook and husband Doug and Mandy Goodson, all of Longview, Jennifer and Dustin Dillard, of Garland; a great-grandchild, Carter Shook and Elaine Scudder Babb, the mother of his children.