Norman John Follett

Norm was born in Salisbury (Brisbane) and raised in Cleveland, Queensland, Australia.

After finishing his schooling and working for a time for Clem Jones (who later became Mayor of Brisbane) and Clem’s wife, Sylvia, he decided to travel the world. Norm departed Australia on the 31st of December 1951.  His stops included Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Cairo, Naples, Pompeii, Marseilles, and Gibraltar before living and working in England.

In early 1953, following those adventures, Norm travelled to Canada and made his way to Calgary where he met his future wife, Lois Hay, at BA /Canada Gulf.  He had a very successful career at Gulf where he started as a draftsman, then went on to do recruitment across Canada, and then was promoted to Northern Affairs where he liaised extensively with the Inuit and First Nations people of Canada.  After ‘retirement’ Norm started his own handyman business which only confirmed the family’s nickname for him, Mr. Fixit.  He was always helping people around him, whether it be fixing something or driving someone somewhere they needed to be.

Norm and Lois were married in 1956 and bought a home in Banff Trail where Norm lived for 63 years. He handcrafted a lot of the interior for the home as well as doing the landscaping.  There really wasn’t much Norm couldn’t do.  He flew gliders in the early years, volunteered for the community, was an avid fisherman, proud winemaker, and a superb but reluctant gardener. Norm also enjoyed football, bridge, music, and horse racing.  After retirement, he and Lois also enjoyed many trips to Australia to visit their two daughters, family, and friends.

Norm spent his last two years in Okotoks where he was able to continue to enjoy his close, 70-year friendship with his English mate, Barry Yates, and his wife, Mary.

Norman was pre-deceased by his parents, Frank & Grace; wife Lois; son Dean; granddaughter Jessie; sister Edith; and in-laws George & Peggy Hay.  He is survived and will be greatly missed by children, Leigh, Lynn (Eddie), and David; grandchildren, Grant, Colin, Ashley, and Casey; great-grandchildren, Wren and Bodhi; younger brothers Colin (Denise), David (Beth), and Stephan (Ailsa); nephews Jim, Greg and Blair as well as many other nephews, nieces and other relatives in Australia and Canada.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice as Norm supported many, many charities. Scattering of ashes and a celebration of life will be held at a later date for both Norm & Lois at Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

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