Norman Rex Tunnell

Norman Rex Tunnell, 79, went to be with the Lord Sunday, August 17, 2014 at his home surrounded by his family.

He was a resident of Colonial Heights, TN. Norman is a graduate of Church Hill High School in 1954 and served in the Army Reserves for 10 years. He began his college education and football career at Mississippi State University and went on to finish both at Austin Peay State University with a degree in Physical Education in 1959. Later, he received his Masters of Education from the University of Mississippi in 1962. He served as an educator his entire 40 year professional career. Norman began his career at his alma mater, Church Hill High School, where he taught and coached. He then moved to Winter Haven, FL where he taught at Polk County Schools for a 5 year stint. Desiring to be back to the family roots, he returned to TN to teach and coach at Blountville High School which became Sullivan Central High School. His first administrative leadership position was at Rogersville High School, where he was principal from 1970-1973. Norman culminated his career as the principal of Colonial Heights Middle School in Kingsport, TN serving the community in that capacity for the next 25 years until his retirement in 1998.
He served Kingsport West Gideon Camp for over 30 years and was an active member of Tri- Cities Baptist.

He was preceded in death by his father, Burrell Tunnell; mother, Beulah Bailey Tunnell; sister, Georgia Tunnell Parker; brother, Ralph Tunnell; mother-in-law, Josephine T. Christian; and father-in-law, Ralph B. Christian.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Barbara Christian Tunnell; daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Jim Suiter of Cleveland, TN; son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Julie Tunnell of Brentwood, TN; son, Michael Tunnell of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Wes and Stephanie Suiter, Kacy Suiter, Mary Julia Tunnell, Scott Tunnell, Millie Tunnell, Josie Tunnell, and Bailey Tunnell; brother, James and Betty Tunnell of Middletown, OH, brother, Lewis and Joyce Tunnell of Church Hill, TN; sister, Lois and Harold Robertson of Kingsport, TN; sister, Mable Daugherty of Church Hill, TN; several nieces, nephews and cousins and many friends.

The family will receive friends at Tri-Cities Baptist Church on Tuesday, August 19, 2014, from
4-7 p.m. with the funeral immediately following with Pastors Gene Mermilliod, Mike Laughrun, and Mike Tyson officiating. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, August 20, at 10 a.m. at Church Hill Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will include Wes Suiter, Scott Tunnell, Randy Tunnell, David Tunnell, Steve Tunnell, Eddie Terry, Brian Larkins, and Mark Larkins. Oscar Larkins, Charles Chandler, Jerry Ford, Wallace Ketron, Roger Herron, Mike Cline, Bill Moore, and Kingsport West Gideon Camp members will serve as honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tri-Cities Baptist Church, 171 Promise Land Drive, Gray, TN 37615, or Gideon's International, c/o Kingsport West Camp, P.O. Box 645, Kingsport, TN 37662.

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