Bunyon Oco Norris Painted by my Aunt Kassie, his 3rd daughter My grandfather’s name was Bunyon Oco (Bill) Norris. He is my mother’s father who influenced and directed the fundamental Baptist beliefs under which I was born and reared. “Papaw” as he was known to his grandchildren, was named after John Bunyon (1628-1688), author of the Christian allegorical classic, “Pilgrim’s Progress” as well as several other controversial Puritan Christian writings. Both of my grandparents left a profound influence on my life in very different ways, but my Papaw’s influence was the most penetrating because of his commanding, often invasive fundamental Baptist beliefs and his extreme conservative political positions. My family lived in the house my parents had built on 2 ½ acres of property Papaw had sold them. It was right next to he and “Mamaw,’s” house—the house he built with his own hands. My mother lived there with them from her early teen years until she married my dad at ...
My past, my present and my hope for the future