Norman F. Oates, 57

SEAFORD - Norman F. Oates, the son of Betty Oates of Seaford and the late Denzil H. Oates, died on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, in the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford. He was 57. Mr. Oates worked for Boulevard Ford Lincoln Mercury in Georgetown. A graduate of the Delaware State Police Academy, Norman served several local law enforcement agencies throughout the years and was also employed by Sussex County, and a number of area ford dealerships. His true passion was serving God through gospel music, co-founding and singing lead with Sounds of Grace, and most recently Revived. Norman is survived by his wife, Jackie; sons, John Oates and Alex Baker, of Bridgeville; daughters, Angela Baker, of Ocean City, Md., and Kimberly Ortiz, of Lincoln; grandchildren, Justin Sammons, Dylon Sammons and Chase Coursey. Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 at the Crossroads Community Church, at the intersection of State Forest Road and 404 between Bridgeville and Georgetown. Friends may call at the Cranston Funeral Home, 300 Shipley St., Seaford, on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and at church on Wednesday from 12 to 1 p.m. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Seaford.