Edgar C. Norman Richland, Wash.

Edgar Carl Norman Jr., age 70, died Sept. 4, 2008, at his home in Richland.

Gar was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer earlier this year but he remained dignified and upbeat until the end.

Husband, Dad and Grandpa, we will miss you, but your life is an example that we will strive to live up to, because we know that "Families are Forever."

Gar was born June 20, 1938, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the oldest child of Edgar and Beth Norman. He lived his early years in the Salt Lake City area and was named outstanding senior at Murray High School in 1956. He served a mission in Sweden for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, returning in 1961. He baptized his father a member of the church before he left on his mission and his dad passed away while he was serving.

Gar married fellow Murray High grad Molly Ledgard on August 17, 1961, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They celebrated their 47th anniversary just a few weeks ago.

Gar attended the University of Utah and graduated with a degree in metallurgical engineering in 1963. While at the U, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Gamma Epsilon fraternities. Gar and Molly's first child, Tom, was born in 1962.

He began his nuclear career in 1963, working for the Atomic Energy Commission in Idaho Falls. He then went to ORSORT, an advanced government training program for nuclear engineers, in Oak Ridge, Tenn. He returned to Idaho Falls in 1964, where his daughter Jill was born.

He worked for a short time at the AEC in Germantown, Md., before returning to the Northwest. He earned his doctorate in engineering science from WSU, doing much of his research work at Hanford. His son Rob was born in Moscow, Idaho, in 1968.

The family then returned to Maryland where Gar worked for the AEC, which later became the Department of Energy. Their daughter Betty was born in 1970. The family moved across the country to Sunnyvale, Calif., in 1972, for just a year, then returned to Maryland, where Gar's youngest child, Jeff, was born in 1975. Gar moved with his family to Richland in 1979 to work at FFTF. They have lived in Richland for the last 29 years. Go Bombers!

Gar retired from DOE in 1993, then worked at various Hanford contractors before finally finishing his nuclear career in 2002.

Dad's greatest loves were his family, his church, traveling, the Mariners when they played well and computers. He and Molly served a mission for the LDS Church in 2003, as hosts at Camp Zarahemla, near White Pass in Washington. He served in many capacities in the church, including stake high council, in a bishopric, quorum presidencies and always a faithful home teacher. He and Molly also served as workers in the Columbia River Temple.

He loved his family immensely, always watching his children in their various activities. He lost his right arm when he was 2, but he prided himself on being able to do almost anything. He and his family never viewed it as a handicap.

Gar is survived by his wife Molly, of Richland; his children, Tom and Shelly, of Pasco; Jill and Kevin Wistisen, Cedar Hills, Utah; Rob and Tina, Queen Creek, Ariz.; Betty and Shannon Taylor, Vancouver, Wash.; and Jeff and Melanie, Mesa, Ariz.; siblings, Tad wife Tove, Alpine, Utah; Van wife Maude, Bountiful, Utah; Alice husband Bob Erickson, deceased, Boise, Idaho; and John wife Chris, Salt Lake City; brother-in-law John Ledgard and wife Glenda, Puyallup; sister-in-law Betty Ledgard, Murray, Utah; 19 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law and 2 grandsons, Riley and John. The family would like to thank the Hospice staff for their compassion during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice at the Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, at the Kennewick LDS Stake Center on Gage Boulevard in Richland, next to the LDS temple. Viewing will be from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to the services, both at the church.

Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland.