Norman H. LathernOctober 9, 1920 ~ December 9, 2007 Surrounded by his family Norman H. Lathern, 87, of Hillsboro was called home to be with his personal Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 9, 2007. Services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, December 13, at Connally/Compton Funeral Directors Chapel with Dr. Brian Whitney and the Rev. Joe W. Bailey officiating. Visitation with family and friends will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12, at the funeral home. Norman Hardy was born to E J Lathern and Annie Lee Stevens in Otto, Texas on Oct. 9, 1920. He married the love of his life, Minnie Julia Pfistner on January 21, 1939 in Golinda, Texas. Norman grew up in the Waco area loving the land. He farmed and ranched in the Waco area for over 50 years with Minnie faithfully by his side. He was awarded the McLennan County Outstanding Conservation Farmer Award in 1974. Norman often said he never went to work a day in his life ~ his work was one of the greatest joys of his life! He served as a deacon at the Speegleville Baptist Church. Norman was a dedicated Christian who loved the Lord, his precious wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This devoted husband and father will be sorely missed. Norman was preceded in death by his mother and father; sister, Bessie Smith; and brother, Bill Lathern. Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 68 years, Minnie Lathern, of Hillsboro; his son, Norman Larry Lathern and wife, Jean of Lorena; daughters, Kathy Turk and husband, Bob of Cypress and Jeanette Scarborough and husband, Gayle of Hillsboro; grandchildren, Shelly Brown and husband, Ben, Erica Duncan and husband, Brian, Shane Downing and wife, Kandi, Heather Henslee, Michelle Gray and husband, Chad, Mike Turk and wife, Amy, and Jeff Turk and wife, Paige; great-grandchildren, Hayden, Alexandra and Carson Brown, Madison and Parker Duncan, Ashtyn and Drew Downing, Lexie and Macie Gray, Sydney and Taylor Grace Turk; brothers, Cecil J. Lathern and Gene Lathern; sisters, Laurene Mae Greener, Edna Bea Devorsky and Jimmie Hill; and his 102 year old aunt, Sis Bowen. Pallbearers will be Ben Brown, Brian Duncan, Shane Downing, Sammy Hill, Jeff Turk and Mike Turk. Honorary pallbearers include a long list of dear friends who were faithful to spend time with him. Memorials may be made to Speegleville Baptist Church, 469 Speegle Road, Waco, TX 76712 or the American Heart Association.