Larry Norman Passes Away (1947-2008)
February 24, 2008
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Posted by Ray Fowler
Memorial Service Update: Click here for photos and a description of Larry’s funeral/memorial service. The service was held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 1st at The Church on the Hill, 2707 Maranatha Ct., Turner, Oregon, just south of Salem. Here is a mapquest link. For more information, contact Charles Norman at charles@slackertone.com
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Christian musician Larry Norman passed away at 2:45 this morning. Larry was a huge influence on me as a young Christian, and I am grateful for his life and ministry. Please keep his family in your prayers.
Here is the message from Larry’s brother, Charles, at Solid Rock Records:
MESSAGE FROM SOLID ROCK:
Hello everybody.
Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45 Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop. We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him, and all the while he had us taking notes on new song ideas and instructions on how to continue his ministry and art …
Yesterday afternoon he knew he was going to go home to God very soon and he dictated the following message to you while his friend Allen Fleming typed these words into Larry’s computer:
I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.
My brother Charles is right, I won’t be here much longer. I can’t do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.
My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.
I’d like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.
Goodbye, farewell, we’ll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.Larry
Thank you to all of you who were so nice to my brother over the years. Kristin and I will post funeral information in the next day or two. Right now we’re not able to function very well, but the whole family is here … our mother Margaret, our sisters Nancy and Kristy, Mike Norman and his new wife Tiffany, and Silver.
We miss him beyond words. Thank you for everything.
Peace to you all in Christ,
Charles Norman
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Feel free to share your memories of Larry in the comments.
Related posts:
- Larry Norman Funeral Video Montage
- Larry Norman’s Funeral/Memorial Service
- Larry Norman on NPR
- Some Larry Norman Videos
- My Tribute Song to Larry Norman
- Larry Norman Sings Goodbye Farewell
- Larry Norman Concert in New York City (1)
- Larry Norman Concert in New York City (2)
Categories: Memorial
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Ray – I came to your blog from Tony Morgans blog about this story. I went back and read about you taking your kids to see Larry back in August. Great stories! What memories! I love Larry’s music and his faithfulness to Christ. His writing and music has been and will continue to be a great source of encouragement to me. Thanks for sharing your stories. God bless you, your family and your ministry.
Hey Ray,,,popped over from the Larry list. Great job on the song, It does not seem that long ago that I “discovered” Larry on the front of Campus Life magazine. I cried when I heard the news, you summed it up perfectly, Larry helped me have a christian world view. He influenced me in my music, my thought process and how I live my life. I sometimes wonder….where are the Larry Normans and Keith Greens for today? It seems like we are too busy singing bland worship songs to worry about feeding the poor and looking into Jesus….
I guess my favorite Larry would have to be “Bootleg” it was the first thing that I owned by Larry, other faves would be “Only Visiting This Planet, In Another Land and “Something New Under The Son”.
Thanks for the post of your tribute song…I am sure Larry smiled when he heard it…..Jacob
Way back in 1984 a friend of mine invited me to see Larry in concert. The concert was held in Pasadena TX and I was 14. After the concert and without my knowledge my friend (Mitch) asked Larry to talk with me and pray for the Spirit to baptize me. Of course Larry came over to me and did just what Mitch asked of him. It was an unforgettable experience and since then I have always enjoyed sharing that story with people.
Larry was such an electric person and he was filled and overflowed with the Spirit. It always excited me knowing that a warrior like Larry was out there somewhere impacting lives on a daily basis.
Praise to God for people like Larry, he will be missed and I look forward to meeting him again in the near future.
God Bless, David
Slowtrain, Jacob and David – Thank you for stopping by and sharing some of your memories of Larry. I am glad to know that you were also touched by Larry’s music and ministry.
I found your site today through a post a Monday Morning Insight about Larry Norman’s passing. It brought back memories that I put in my blog today. Thanks for your site. I like your concept to share “life” which is all a gift from God.
I was in my Navy tech school in memphis tennn when I was invited to see a christian movie. The movie was ” a theif in the night” and I heard the song “I wish we all been ready”. God’s choir in heaven has gotten a wonderful new edition. Larry’s ministry has touched so many around the world—he will be missed- rest well soilger.
Phil – I visited your site and read your post. Interesting stuff! I love the Arthur Blessit story. I once spent a summer doing street witnessing in Salem, MA and have fond memories of those experiences.
Ray – Actually, “Thief in the Night” was probably my first introduction to Larry also, but it wasn’t until later that I discovered him through his albums.
His music kept me from dying so many times as I was crucified with Christ. His work was a gift from God. And now He has taken back one of his loveliest. I shall grieve for years to come. Not mourn without hope, but I shall mourn. We shall carry on. May the Spirit sustain us; none else will.
Ray (Sievers) – It sounds like Larry’s ministry really touched your life in a deep way. Thanks for sharing.