Norma Lee Owen

Born in Houston to E.J. and Bessie Orgeron, Norma grew up with big sister Bessie Barnes and little brother Emil “Sonny” Orgeron.

One warm evening, her father’s dinner guest entered their home, removed his hat, and locked eyes with Norma. He saw she carried herself as though a movie star: her chin slightly cocked, her hand flung dramatically to the side. Saw the light in those blue eyes, the laughter, the wit, that skin that she chose to never hide with make-up, the strength. Or maybe A. David Owen just intuited that Norma made the World’s Best Chocolate Pie.

Soon after, they were building, with their own hands, their first house, board by board. Mammaw and Pappaw spent the next 55 years building a home together, love by love.

Mammaw always made sure her home was stocked with the things kids loved: Ice cream cones, chocolate milk, refrigerated candy bars, and daily bacon. Her house was always decorated with things she had made with her own hand: She and her best friend Ruth spent years mastering the art of ceramics and giving her favorite pieces to friends and family. We are flush with heirlooms.

Well, Pappaw went to his heavenly home 20 years ago. And ever since, a part of Mammaw yearned for a reunion. Sometimes she would just stop in the middle of, say, a card game and say something to the effect of “I can’t wait to be see him again.”

If they are not dancing down the golden streets, it is only because they are back at their mansion measuring for curtains.

Having grown up in the in the Great Depression, Mammaw learned early on to trust the Lord. Forging her own lifelong spiritual path, she never stopped her daily ritual of studying the Word and praying to Jesus. This was especially true in those years when her children seemed lost in a spiritual wilderness.

Mammaw was a prayer warrior that battled for those souls.

When the family gathered for special occasions, it wouldn’t be unusual for the JamBox to come out and some worship tape to go in, and a noisy full-gospel church service would foment right where we sat.

Her prayers filled rooms and hearts and gaps and lives. And she filled with teary joy seeing her children turn, one by one, to a life in Christ.

Her impact on the lives of her loved ones can not be over-estimated.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” are the words she wants engraved on her tombstone.

She is survived by her three children: Sharon Lewis and husband John, Kenneth Owen and wife Ruth, and A. David Owen III and wife Dianne. She is survived by her eleven grandchildren: Candee, Stephenie, Johnny, Mark, Machelle, Becky, Kenzie, Sheila, Andrea, Natasha, and Katrina. She is survived by her twenty great grandchildren children: Daniel, Matthew, Jonathon, Taylor, Brendan, Jordan, Lindsey, Abigail, Elijah, Joshua, Kalob, Kolby, James, Emily, Jeannie, Owen, Sam, Ruby, Gracie, and Michael.

And she is survived by her two great great grandchildren Rylin and Brooklyn.

We will celebrate Norma on Wednesday at 2:00 PM at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Fwy, Houston, TX 77039. Interment follows the chapel service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to David Wilkerson’s World Challenge ministry.