Norma Shoemaker Gonzalez, a lifelong resident of the El Paso Valley, passed away surrounded by the legacy of family and community she helped build. She was born in Fabens, Texas, to Gaston and Naomi Shoemaker and grew up rooted in the traditions and hardworking spirit of the region.
Norma attended Austin High School in El Paso before beginning her professional career in the engineering department at El Paso Natural Gas Company. She later worked at The Popular Department Store in downtown El Paso and at the Adobe Horseshoe Dinner Theater, where she catered to visiting performers and movie stars appearing at the historic venue.
Entrepreneurial and determined, Norma went on to become the proprietor of The Tortilla Factory and The Pit Stop liquor store. She also played an active role in developing subdivisions in the area, contributing to the growth of the community she loved.
Norma was never afraid of hard work. When needed, she could be found driving a large John Deere tractor, plowing and disking acres of family farmland across San Elizario, Clint, Fabens, and Esperanza — a reflection of her strength, independence, and deep connection to the land.
In 1955, she married the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Gonzalez. They shared 65 years together and were married for 63 years before his passing. Their partnership was the foundation of a large and loving family.
Among the organizations she deeply valued were the Mission Trail Association, the El Paso County Historical Society, Friends of the UTEP Library, and the San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society. Through these organizations she supported the preservation of the region’s history and culture.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Dick” Gonzalez, and her parents, Gaston Shoemaker and Naomi Beasley Shoemaker.
She is survived by her children, Terry Lynn Endlich (widow of Robert Endlich) and Blaine Shoemaker Gonzalez; her grandchildren, Brittany Endlich (Andrew Michalak) and Bennett Endlich; and her great-grandson, Miller Michalak.
Norma will be remembered for her strength, entrepreneurial spirit, devotion to family, and the remarkable life she built in the El Paso Valley.
Scripture service will be Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 12:30 pm at Funeraria Del Angel central, 3839 Montana Ave. El Paso, Texas 79903 with a commital to follow in Restlawn Memorial Park, 4848 Alps, El Paso, Texas 79904
