Norman Darnell "Cruz" Handley

Norman Darnell “Cruz” Handley, age 67, of Hodgenville, passed away Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Baptist Health Hardin.

An Army veteran. He joined First Baptist Church at an early age and was a member of the American Legion.  Cruz was a jack of all trades; a long-time employee of Ireland Army Hospital; self-employed lawn care provider and worked for Craig Keith and Texas Roadhouse.  A devoted brother and very proud father, he was an avid Dallas Cowboy’s fan and loved Park 84.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Reba Marie Handley; father, Norman Edward “Snake” Handley; a sister, Janet Handley and his cousins who were like brothers, Ricky Wooten, Greg Wooten and Joel “Jobo” Curle.

Cruz is survived by a son, Courtney Smith of Louisville; three daughters, Kellee Thurman of Elizabethtown, Autumn (Michael) Agerone of California and Candice Handley of Hodgenville; seven grandchildren, Kanaan Hillard, Maverick Stark, Adrix Lee, Athena Agerone, Aria Agerone, Adaysha Lee and Aniya Lee; four sisters, Karen Handley of Louisville, Toison (Carl) Pope of Buffalo, Sonya Handley of Hodgenville and Jennifer Mills of Elizabethtown and two brothers, Jamie Handley and Chris Mitchell, both of Hodgenville.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, September 2, at First Baptist Church Hodgenville with Rev. Billy Curle officiating. Burial will follow in Buffalo Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation begins at 11 a.m. Monday at the church.

Pallbearers will be Kanaan Hillard, Michael Agerone, William Handley, Jamarquis Handley, Stevie Phillips, Steve Best and Craig Keith; honorary pallbearers will be Paul Handley, Jr., Lefty Cobb, William Masden and Bobby Powell.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the family to help with funeral and medical expenses.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Norman Darnell "Cruz" Handley, please visit our floral store.