St. George, Utah – Norman Hall Fawson returned to the waiting arms of his parents and many loved ones on June 2, 2025, under the compassionate care of the Intermountain Health Care and Hospice at the age of 86. He was born on January 1, 1939, in Salt Lake City, UT to Merrill Pehrson Fawson and Hazel May Hall Fawson. He married Mary Jane Bromley on March 16, 1962, with whom he raised their seven children. He later married Reta Hansen for a time. On March 12, 2011, he married Jerilyn Fuhriman Fawson for eternity.

Norman was raised in Hurricane, UT, Coleville, UT, Ogden, UT, and St. George, UT where he finished elementary school, Woodward, Dixie High School, and Dixie College where he was the valedictorian in 1958. After a six-month military service in the Army as a ballistics instructor, he opted out to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served faithfully and blessed many lives in the Toronto, Canada Mission serving under Mission President, Thomas S. Monson. He then attended the University of Utah where he received a degree in Genetics, followed by the University of Utah Medical School where he graduated with a Doctorate of Medicine in 1966. He then moved his young family to Ogden, UT where he served as Chief Resident at the Thomas Dee Memorial Hospital. Finally, he moved to St. George, UT where he started his medical practice as a General Practitioner from 1968 until 2008. He tailored his program to include training in the areas of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Emergency Room, Surgery, Intro-medicine Psychiatry, and Pediatrics. He delivered more than 4,000 babies and claimed that bringing those new lives into the world and delivering them to the loving arms of their parents was the most rewarding part of his career. He still held a current medical license, worked at the Doctors Volunteer Clinic, was the Medical Examiner for many years throughout Washington County, and was currently working as the intake physician at the New Season Methadone Treatment Center which he found very rewarding when he passed on, putting him in his 60th year of medical service.

In the 5th grade he joined the Dixie College Orchestra and never looked back. On October 22, 2011, he was inducted into the Dixie State College Hall of Fame which honored him in the area of fine and performing arts. The recognition the award provided shared Dr. Fawson as being a New Year's baby and a St George native. More award accomplishments continued,

"During his two years at Dixie College he was more than the average academic student as he became well renowned, rounded, and balanced through service to others. He was a member of the Dixie College String Quartet and Dixie College Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Ronald Garner. He played in the pit orchestra for musicals directed by Dr. Marian Bentley and served as stage manager for Delta Psi Omega. In addition, Fawson served as the X Club President, Sports Editor for the Dixie Sun newspaper, and Business Manager for the yearbook. He was also a member of the tennis team and was the valedictorian for the 1958 graduating class. Following military service and a church mission to Canada, Norman graduated from the University of Utah and was a member of the University Symphony Orchestra. In 1966, he graduated from the University of Utah College of Medicine. After his internship and general practice residency in Ogden, he returned to St George where he enjoyed a 40 year family medical practice and served as the Hospital Chief of Staff and board member president of the Southern Utah Medical Society, Medical Director of the Rocky Mountain Hospice and the Saint George Metro Treatment Center and as the Deputy State Medical Examiner. Fawson has always had a passion for music and orchestra in his life. In 1980 he co-founded the Southwest Symphony Orchestra and has been a violist with the orchestra ever since. He also plays with the Southwest Symphony strings and is director of the annual Bach and Mozart festivals. He is a violin and viola instructor for Washington County School District and is the father of seven children."

Suffice it to say, he was an intricate part in bringing stringed instruments and orchestra in the performing arts arena from the ground up in Southern Utah.

Basketball and tennis were two of Norman's favorite sports of which he passed on to all of his children and many of his grandchildren. He was the 1st student from Dixie High School to win the Utah State Tennis Tournament playing 1st Doubles. In his honor, his family has held an annual tennis tournament, The Norman Fawson Invitational, which brings them together each summer around Father's Day from as far away as Kansas.

He loved family adventures in the way of road trips via the famous family van and the motor home, the furthest excursion being all the way to Florida and back. He enjoyed exploring unknown dirt roads and would have to follow them to the end to reveal their destination. He also loved boating, and Lake Powell was his joyful retreat to spend quality time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, making forever memories only Lake Powell can magically provide. As well, he enjoyed spending time in the wilderness hunting deer with his brothers-in-law and sons. He also bought 18 acres in the city of Central, UT at which he taught us all the meaning of hard work and how to enjoy the fruits of our labors with a total of 1,200 fruit trees. It has been an ongoing saga in itself that has kept us all grounded in a great appreciation of what mother earth has to offer. He supported the interests of us children whenever and however he could in our many individual pursuits. He loved his family, and we love him! He had a strong testimony of the Gospel and of our Savior Jesus Christ. He helped and touched the lives of others in a multitude of ways.

He is survived by his wife, Jerilyn Fawson; his children: Stephen (Timandra) Fawson, Kristin (Kenny) Poulsen, Katherine (Devin) Hall, Nathan (Robyn) Fawson, Rebecca (Trevor) Suelzle, Bradley (Sheri) Fawson, and Rachel (Peter) Kuhlmann; 36 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren. Jerilyn's children include Kathryn (Randy) Hodges, Cynthia Dylan, David (Tara) Names, Eric (Valerie) Names, and Megan (Mark) McCrory; and 16 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters: Marilyn (Glenn) Smith, Margaret (George) Talbot, and Elaine (Edward) Welling. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Kathleen (Craig Pearce and Bruce Savage), and two sets of twin grand babies.

A viewing will be held Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with a viewing prior from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., in the Morningside Stake Center, 881 South River Road, St. George, Utah.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 N Street (Plat: 310 North Cypress Ave.), Salt Lake City, Utah.

The family wishes to thank the caring doctors, nurses and staff at Intermountain Health Care.

Compassionate service provided by Morningside Second Ward Relief Society.

Norman Fawson Funeral Service Program