Reverend Norman Eugene Fikes of Bastrop, Texas, passed away on February 18, 2023, after a lengthy illness with Parkinson's Disease.

Norman was born on July 11, 1936, to Pearson and Reba Fikes in Tyronza, Arkansas. Norman married Bobbie Jean Melton on September 27, 1957, in St Louis, Missouri, and to Nila Smith on March 7, 2021, in Bastrop, Texas.

Norman served in the United States Army for two years, from October 1959 to February 1962. He was stationed as a desk clerk in New York City, New York. Norman was honorably discharged in 1962. After his few years of military service, Norman and Bobbie resided in St Louis, Missouri. While living in St Louis, they adopted Ralph on April 1, 1964. After that, they moved to Fredericktown, Missouri, where Norman started a gas station and produce business. Later, in 1972, they moved the family to Austin, Texas, where he began his pastoral ministry. He was a pastor in Jollyville/Pond Springs area; Lexington, Texas; Three Rivers, Texas; and Victoria, Texas. In 2007, Norman and Bobbie started a fellowship in Bastrop State Park called End Tyme Fellowship. They then moved to a different location until his retirement in 2017. Soon after that, he selected Reverend Tanya Betak to pastor the church. End Tyme Fellowship was Norman's pride and joy. He took great pride in all its accomplishments and growth within the community. Many members that originally began going in 2007 are still within the church today. He signed many ministers up with Full Gospel Churches International and helped them acquire their ordination papers to become ordained ministers. Norman had a love and talent for writing poetry. His poetry was a big part of his life, and he was very creative. Norman could write about anything. He could watch people and their everyday lives/ situations and write about them in his poetry, whether he knew them or not. He loved to recite his poems. He would repeat them anywhere that he could. He loved watching the audience when he read.

Norman is pre-deceased by his parents, Pearson and Reba Fikes; wife, Bobbie Fikes; sister, Thelma Kennedy; and his brother, Ron Downs.

Norman is survived by his wife, Nila Fikes; his son, Ralph and his wife, Kim; grandchildren, Jeremy Higdon, Tim Higdon, and Leslie Trice; and numerous great-grandchildren. During his life, he adopted others like his children and grandchildren, Scott and Shawna Lehman, his pen pal for many years, Nicole Lattiere Yadanza, Melanie Betak, and numerous others to count but not forgotten.

A Memorial Service will be held on March 11, at 11:00 am at End Tyme Fellowship, located at 1289 East Hwy 71, Bastrop, Texas 78602. In place of flowers, the family request donations to be made to End Tyme Fellowship or to Full Gospel Churches International.