Thomas Norton

Thomas J. Norton, Jr., 89, husband of Elizabeth G. Norton, passed peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, July 13, 2013. Born December 25, 1923, in West Newton, Massachusetts, he was the son of Thomas J. Norton, Sr. and Grace Reilly Norton. Tom served with the US Marines in W.W.II and went on to graduate from Boston College. He married the late Barbara Ann Smith in 1949 and they had six children. Tom served as a Special Agent for the FBI for 25 years and founded Norton Investigative and Polygraph Services. He was an avid basketball player and fan and was well-known at the James Island YMCA for his countless hours of volunteer work as a Board Member, coach, mentor, and referee. Tom also founded and coached the first Nativity School team in the city parochial basketball league. While serving on various committees at Nativity Church, he met and married Elizabeth McMenamin on June 19, 1988. Tom was predeceased by a son, Thomas Norton; a stepson, Neal McMenamin and his sisters, Ann Norton and Mary Ahearn. He is survived by his wife, Liz and children: Denise Callahan (Bob), Carol Dox (Ron), Lauren Norton, Joseph Norton (Mary), and Timothy Norton (Cynthia); stepchildren: Elizabeth McMenamin, Edward McMenamin, and Margaret McMenamin-Ryan (Stephen), Mary McMenamin; his siblings: Grace Carney, Doris McKenna, Philip Norton, and Sr. Jane Norton; 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and countless loving nieces and nephews. The relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Joseph Norton, Jr. are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at The Church of the Nativity, 1061 Folly Rd. The Rite of Committal will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM this Monday evening at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy. His guestbook may be signed online at www.jamesamcalister.com. Memorial donations may be made to The Church of the Nativity Building Fund, 1061 Folly Rd., Charleston, SC 29412.