Norval Lee Oliver, age 92, of Princeton, passed away at The Lodge of Natchez Trace in Nashville, TN on Tuesday evening, November 19, 2024; after living 3 years at Riversbend Assisted Living in Kuttawa, KY. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Monica “KoKo” Dearing Oliver; parents, Nathan Carter Oliver and Helen Merrick Oliver; 2 sisters: Dorothy Kangas of Rockland, ME and Doris Hillyard of Princeton, KY; 4 brothers: Earl Russell Oliver Sr. of Nashville, TN, Luther D “Shorty” Oliver, Lonnie H. “Bug” Oliver, and Travis Wayne Oliver all of Princeton, KY.
Lee was survived by his sister, Lois Ann Beavers of Princeton, KY; sons: Rev. Jerry (Cindy) Oliver of Mayfield, KY and Dr. David “Dusty” (Teresa) Oliver of Princeton, KY; and daughter Lori (Doug) Long of Pegram, TN; 6 grandchildren: Holly Mohler of Mayfield, KY, Lee Wayne (Jenny) Oliver of Houma, LA, Rev. Josh (Jana) Oliver of Sedalia, KY, Caleb (Allison) Oliver of Princeton, KY, Rev. Brandon (Kara) Shanks of Knoxville, TN, and Danielle (Craig) Gwin of Nashville, TN; 12 great-grandchildren: Rev. Derrick (Teresa) Mohler, Ashley (Ethan) Prather, Zechariah Oliver, Savannah Oliver, Katie Oliver, Sadie Beth Oliver, Sutton Oliver, Hudson Shanks, Karter Shanks, Baylor Shanks, Elliot Gwin, and Elizabeth Gwin; and 3 great-great-grandchildren: Abigail Mohler, Dean Mohler, and Ryder Prather.
Lee was a lifetime resident of Kentucky and primarily of the Princeton. He operated the B. N. Lusby Co. plumbing, heating, and air/conditioning for over 40 years. Lee along with Mr. Rumsey Taylor of Princeton Lumber Company, built and maintained much of the business infrastructure of Princeton and Caldwell County including Farmers Bank, Caldwell County School, Caldwell County War Memorial Hospital, Morgan’s Funeral Home, and many residential homes and properties. In addition, Lee served on the Princeton Volunteer Fire Department for over 30 years, and served in numerous civic operations such as Youth Incorporated coaching, carried the yard markers on the football field, and also held several voluntary positions in his church and community. His proudest achievement was in being a good husband and father and will be remembered for his integrity in his business operations. Lee’s greatest joy was his family and providing random acts of kindness to others without recognition or being asked, such as making sure the elderly in the community’s heating and air units were serviced at no cost, providing anonymous financial assistance to those in need, in later years delivering fresh vegetables from his garden and homemade pear preserves to brighten other people’s day. He lived by the words, “A man is only as good as his word”. A life well lived.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM Monday, November 25, 2024, at Morgan’s Funeral Home.
Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM Monday, November 25, 2024, at Morgan’s Funeral Home with Rev. Dan Grisham officiating. Burial will follow at Lance Nichols Cemetery in Caldwell County.
If you would like to make a donation in honor of Lee Oliver, in lieu of flowers, please donate to Tupelo Children’s Mansion – <https://mansionkids.org/donate/>
