Nancy C Norman

May 6, 1937 to July 24, 2012

Mom lived a life full of love, laughter, adventure and joy. She also got to see her share of sorrow and pain. But through it all she always kept a smile on her face and strived for the best life had to offer. It was very full for a girl born and raised in a sleepy, little town in Oklahoma.

She was born on May 6, 1937 to Orvel and Eythel Jones in Weleetka Oklahoma. She was married to Howard Sinason and had 4 children; Jeff, Sandy, Valerie and Angie. While they were married, they had an opportunity to travel and live in several different countries such as Germany, Panama, and Japan as a result of assignments with the Army and her role as a manager for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). When her marriage to Howard came to an end, she married George Norman and with that, mom's family grew to 8 children, adding Larry, Mark, Ken and Carol. Together George and Mom, who both worked for AAFES, enjoyed going on cruises all over the world and spending time with their family until George's passing in 2009.

As a friend, wife, mother, and grandmother she was always deeply devoted. Her door was never closed, she never judged; she was selfless and made sure all of her loved ones were taken care of first.

She enjoyed spending time with friends in all kind of activities such as playing cards, mahjong or just partying and dancing. Those times always brought her great joy.

As a wife, she loved her men deeply. She was encouraging and helpful in making them the best men they could be. She did all of this while still keeping the home fires burning and developing herself a full and respected career with AAFES.

As a mother, she loved all of her children intensely and only wished the best for all of them. Mom would mend the skinned knees and broken hearts. She always had an understanding ear when they had a heavy burden to carry and was often the mediator and peace keeper when there were squabbles. Throughout her life, Mom always stood up to defend her family. Her love was unconditional and she was not only the best mom you could have, but also a friend.

In December of 2011 she was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This came after noticing symptoms that were unusual and kept appearing with aggressive frequency. This awful disease quickly began to eat up the once vibrant and vivacious woman who was fiercely independent, was strong willed and had a deep appreciation for life. The disease rapidly began to take all of the things away from her that she enjoyed and cherished so much. It took her ability to live independently, the joy she found participating in activities with her friends and family, and the ability to communicate and share her opinions, jokes and love. The disease took everything from her but her mind, leaving her trapped in a place of no escape.

Mom's life can be summed up by the fact that she loved life and loved all of the people in it even more. She believed wholeheartedly in living it to its fullest and ensuring that her family stayed together and was taken care of. She was the glue that kept everyone together. She will always be cherished and kept close in our hearts as she embarks on this new journey.

As you read this please think of all of those who have suffered and left ones behind as a result of this horrible disease. Think about the suffering one has to endure as it slowly takes away everything you hold near and dear to your heart. Please leave a donation to help in the fight against ALS so that in the future, other families will not have to experience this kind of loss.