Norman Russell Ralph, 81, of Jayess died February 13, 2018, after complications from surgery. He was born on December 24, 1936, in Spencer, Iowa to the late Robert and Frances Ralph. He was the older brother to Carl Dean Ralph who preceded him in death and Robert Amos Ralph (Liala) of Chandler, AZ.

Norman was the first in his family to attend college and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Practical Christian Training from Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC). He pastored churches in Wichita, KS; Higginsville, MO; and Columbia, MO and preached the Word of God in Greenville, MS; Liberty, MO; and Jayess, MS as needed in full-time, bi-vocational, youth, and interim pastorates. He was willing to do whatever was needed within the church in Mandeville, LA or the church he was currently attending. He retired from Montgomery Elevator Company in 1995 where he worked as an elevator and escalator service technician. He was an avid Ham Radio Operator from his teens and attained the highest level of operating privileges, Amateur Extra. He enjoyed sailing the sailboat that he restored, authored articles for several sailing, amateur radio magazines, newspapers and other periodicals. He loved to play bluegrass music, wrote and emailed a monthly devotional thought to many, and was a loving husband, father and grandfather. His grandson described him as "the most godly and mechanically versatile man I know. He always knew what the Bible taught, was a preacher for a time, wrote devotionals which he would email out, and was always involved in his church, and yet he was always accepting and never judgmental. When it came to mechanical aptitude he had the skills and knowledge that only a farm boy possesses. He retired from the elevator trade, restored a sailboat in his backyard, was always building and improving the barn. Even his table saw was one he built himself. He truly was a jack of all trades. He also had a great respect for nature, from campfires, camping, and canoe trips, to hunting, fishing and shooting. He enjoyed spending his time in the outdoors."

Survivors include his wife, Jeanette Miriam Lacks Ralph; son Norman Ralph, Jr. (Marrena); son Robert Ralph (Cyndi); grandchildren Paul Ralph (Susan), Timothy Ralph (Alyssa), Peter Ralph (Amber), Andrew Ralph, Arrena Ralph, and Brant Ralph; great-granddaughter Isabelle Ralph and was excited about the arrival of another great-grandchild later this year.

A memorial service of his life was held on Sunday, February 18, 2018, at Sartinville United Methodist Church in Jayess.