Norman Griffith Sharber, born February 26, 1925, in Denton, Texas; died peacefully at home on October 28, 2013. He was the son of Joseph Leslie Sharber and Eunice Exie (Griffith). His father moved the family to Flagstaff in 1929 to open a distributorship for the Texas Co., later known as Texaco. The four year old boy, disembarking the train long after dark, recalled seeing snow for the first time in his life.

The Sharber family quickly fell in love with Flagstaff. They first lived on Leroux Street, and later moved to 210 E. Dale Avenue. Norm attended Emerson School, and graduated from Flagstaff High School in 1942. He briefly attended Arizona State College, but enlisted in the Navy in February of 1943 and became a radio technician, 3rd class. While stationed on Tinian Island, Norm converted to Catholicism under the guidance of his close friend Paul Quay, was baptized, and later received confirmation on the island of Saipan. He was honorably discharged in March, 1946 as radio technician, first class (ETM 1/C).

Following his naval service, Norm returned to Flagstaff to work for his father. He renewed his childhood friendship with Rayma Babbitt, daughter of Viola Passey and J. R. Babbitt, Sr. They married on December 28, 1951, and have since resided in the home they built on Havasupai Road.

After his father's death in 1955, Norm assumed the Texaco distributorship. He successfully expanded the business, Arizona Trails, Inc., throughout northern and eastern AZ including Holbrook, Pine Top, Page, and Prescott under both Texaco and later Shell brands.

Norm was very active in the Flagstaff community. He belonged to the Kiwanis Club, the Symphony Board, and instructed Dale Carnegie leadership courses. He was active in the Democratic Party and worked on grass roots organizing efforts. When Robert F. Kennedy made a stop in Flagstaff during his 1968 presidential campaign tour, Norm slipped away from the program to take his kids for a spin in the red convertible used to ferry Mr. Kennedy.

One of his proudest honors was his appointment to the Arizona Board of Regents by Gov. Samuel P. Goddard. He served nine years from 1965 to 1974 during a difficult period of change that included campus unrest, and changes in the relationships between the universities, the Board of Regents, and the state legislature.

Norm had many interests over the years. He created entertaining gadgets of the Rube Goldberg variety known as "hoochie-coochies," built a machine to freeze-dry mushroom specimens, and plucked quarters from the ears of many awe-struck kids. When the family grew, he wired the house to broadcast bedtime stories from a living room tape recorder to three bedrooms full of kids. He enjoyed picnics in the woods, collecting firewood with the family, hiking, playing golf, photography, classical music and rafting the Colorado River.

Norm's interest in electrofishing began when he was asked to review the sampling techniques used by Museum of Northern Arizona researchers in their endangered fish studies. He investigated injuries suffered by fish exposed to electrical fields and later developed and patented equipment to minimize harm to the fish. The equipment has since been used in both research and commercial applications. Norm's theory that epilepsy explained the behavior of electroshocked fish challenged the accepted dogma in fisheries sciences.

Norm continued to golf and hike with the family dogs in the woods well into his retirement. He loved to have coffee downtown in the mornings with his friends or a good newspaper.

He had a deep love for his family, and we were blessed to have the last month of his life to care for him at home.

He was predeceased by his parents and two siblings, Joseph Leslie, Jr. (WWII), and Geraldine (Jerry) Bennett of El Cajon, California. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, and nine children: Mary Sharber, Flagstaff; Joseph (Robin), Bozeman, MT; John (Sharon), Flagstaff; Rayma (David) Lee, Flagstaff; Jane (Steven) Black, Tucson, AZ; Jean (Kaign) Christy, Pampanga, Philippines; Roberta (Wayne) Wallace, Cottonwood, AZ; William, Flagstaff; and Frances (Doug) Holmes, Casa Grande, AZ; 19 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

Rosary will be held on Friday, November 1, 7:00 pm, at Norvel Owens Mortuary, 914 E. Route 66. The funeral Mass will be held Saturday, November 2, 2:00 pm, at Nativity of B.V.M. Chapel, 16 W. Cherry Ave., followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery, and memorial reception at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, 224 S. Kendrick.


In lieu of Flowers family request donations be made in Norman's Honor to Hospice Compassious or Catholic Charities.