Patrick David Norris

Patrick David Norris, age 50, was made whole as he passed away on January 8, 2024 in Athens, Ga, surrounded by family and friends. Patrick lived in Ashford, Washington but had recently returned to Oconee County to be with family as he received medical care for liver disease.

Patrick, son of Wayne and Merle Norris, grew up in Oconee County and attended Oconee schools through tenth grade. He graduated from Athens Christian School 1991, then attended Emanuel College and graduated in 1995 from Lee University in Cleveland, TN with a major in history.  Prior to his graduation, Patrick called his dad and stated “Dad, I can stay here for another year and get my teaching certificate,” followed by his query “Or what do you think about me going to culinary school”?  Patrick had tapped a passion for the kitchen and cooking while helping a friend start a sports bar in Cleveland. Patrick displayed uncanny creativity as a young child in early elementary art classes when his paintings showed ability beyond his years and training. He applied his artistic nature to food.

To learn the culinary arts, Patrick was given the opportunity to work with Trumps Restaurant and Catering in Athens following college graduation.  With a desire to broaden his experience, Patrick accepted a position at the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Resort in Wyoming which led to a position at The Amangani, a world renown Resort in Jackson Hole. Patrick would go on to work as a chef and then executive chef throughout the Western states, including Alaska, for nearly three decades. Working in National Parks and in pristine natural settings, fostered Patrick’s passion for and skill at fishing, hiking, rafting, berry picking and for life lived away from crowds. “He did not like crowds of people but the people he did love, he loved fiercely,” stated his brother, Eric.

Patrick’s dedication to train those who desired to learn resulted in Patrick mentoring innumerable men and women from around the world in the culinary arts and kitchen management. He was known as a tough yet caring and compassionate boss with high expectations. He was affectionately referred to as “Chef P.”  His sense of humor, evident from early childhood, was contagious. On his Facebook page, a colleague wrote “He was one of those rare Chefs that had a flare for creating amazing cuisine, but also ran a kitchen like a boot camp. Organized, clean, every person understanding their job at each station and knowing his numbers like the best Chief Financial Officer. He held people accountable but he loved you. He showed you a path where passion and dedication lived, and if you understood him, you went on to create your own culinary path. He was proud of that. He was featured on local news channels, on radio programs, in newspaper articles and in cookbooks celebrating the talents of the Pacific North West”.

Patrick is survived by his mother, Merle Reynolds Norris, father J. Wayne Norris (Susan Carse Norris), brother Eric (Jennifer Stewart Norris), nephew Caleb and niece Greer, and step-sister Abby McLocklin Cheng (Kasey) of Atlanta.

Interment of Patrick’s ashes will be at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Athens-Clarke County, Ga. at a later date.  There a family gathering will be led by Patrick’s youth minister, Tracy Reynolds.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com