Norman Lee Dockins, 76, of McKinney, Texas, died on Thursday, December 12, 2019. He was born on May 22, 1943 in Marble Hill, Missouri, to Chalmer Augustus Dockins and Martha Evelyn McClellan Dockins.
Norman graduated from Sikeston Senior High School in 1961, where he was a star athlete, excelling in football, baseball and track. In football, he earned all-conference honors and set many school records including rushing yards and touchdowns in a single season, the latter of which wasn't broken until 1991. His success on the field led to his induction into the Sikeston Senior High School Hall of Fame in 2000.
Attending Southeast Missouri State University, Norman continued playing football and earned two most valuable player awards and all-conference honors before graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1965.
After college, he had a brief stint with the Dallas Cowboys before embarking on a fulfilling career as a coach and physical education teacher in Missouri and Texas. During his 40 years as a teacher, he helped educate and guide thousands of students, teaching them about health and life. His coaching style and his view of life is best summed up by one of his former students, author and radio personality Rush Limbaugh. In his book, See, I Told You So, and on his radio program, Mr. Limbaugh quoted Norman as saying "Son, we don't pace ourselves in football, and we don't pace ourselves in life. We go all out, all the time."
He will always be remembered for his generosity, charity, warm smile, uplifting presence and his love of family and mints. Norman is loved and will be missed by an immeasurable number of people.
He is survived by his son Norman Lee Dockins, Jr. and his wife Susie, of Montrose, Colorado; daughter Ann Elizabeth Chamberlain and her husband Tom of Dexter, Missouri; daughter Amy Lynn Justin and her husband David of McKinney, Texas; sister Coyita Lynnette Thomas and her husband Randy of Sikeston, Missouri; grandchildren Joshua Matthew Allen, Thomas Taylor Chamberlain and Lexi Annaleese Chamberlain of Dexter, Missouri; granddaughters Abigail Grace Ford, Alyssa LeeAnn Ford and step-granddaughters Makenna Grace Justin and Kendall Faith Justin of McKinney, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Harold Douglas Dockins and Melvin Ray Dockins; sister Rita Arnell Dockins; and grandson Jonathon Lee Allen.
Services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in his name to the Alzheimer's Association or the North Texas Food Bank