Joseph Kieffer Norris

Joseph Kieffer Norris died peacefully at home after a long illness.  During his last hours he was surrounded by his wife of 73 years, Doris Owens Norris, and family. He was a graduate of Gonzaga High School and held science degrees from George Washington University and the US Merchant Marine Academy.  He was a veteran and served as a ships officer on five different tanker ships including one hazardous trip to Murmansk and Archangel, Russia, on the White Sea.  He had a distinguished 28-year career as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, followed by over a decade of work as an investigator with a private agency and with the US Department of State. 

Mr. Norris was the son of Dr. Cornelius L. and Caroline P. Kieffer Norris, and the brother of Cornelius L. Norris, Jr., Paulette N. McGettigan, and Caroline N. Gola.  He is survived by a son Joseph K. Norris, Jr. (Janet) and a daughter Doris N. Auer (Charles), four grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.  He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Sarah E. Auer, in 2002.  He was a long-time member of St. Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Church and of the Jewish Community Center where he played tournament handball for many years.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Church, 917 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD, on September 15 at 10:00 a.m. with a Visitation preceding the Mass at 9:00 a.m.  Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Sarah E. Auer Memorial Scholarship by mail (Greater Washington Community Foundation, P.O. Box 49010, Baltimore, Maryland 21297-4910. Please include Auer Fund in memo) or online (bit.ly/donateGWCF noting the Sarah E. Auer Scholarship Fund in the donation form).