Norma Payne Stewart

Norma was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Bill Stewart, the former host of WFTM's "True to the Farm" radio show.

Norma was born January 7, 1931, near Mount Vernon, Kentucky, the eldest surviving child of Lucy Frances and William Andrew "Skinner" Payne, both deceased. She is survived by her five children − Toy Biederman of Worthington, Ohio; Alice Stewart (Charlie Wilson) of Greensboro, N.C.; Alexander "Xandy" (Pam) Stewart of Maysville; Fran Stewart (David Mook) of Solon, Ohio; and Jonathan (Cheryl) Stewart of Nicholasville, Ky. − all of whom were able to spend time with her in her final days. She leaves behind three brothers, Albert (Kathy) Payne, Dale Payne and Morgan (Connie) Payne, and one sister, Loretta Parr, with whom she remained close. Also surviving are eight grandchildren − Lydia (Chris) Rhoads, Ingrid Biederman, Nathaniel Biederman, Mason Stewart, Mary Alice Stewart, Eliot Mook, Ethan Mook and Will Stewart − two great-grandchildren − Madeline and Sam Rhoads − and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Norma was a lifelong educator, both in and out of the classroom. She began her education, as well as her teaching career, in a one-room schoolhouse in Rockcastle County. She earned her bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky State College in 1953. After graduation, she moved to Maysville, recruited by legendary basketball coach, principal and superintendent Earle D. Jones to teach girls' high school physical education. Norma soon found her passion teaching first grade at Woodleigh School and Washington School. Most of her time in the classroom, however, was spent teaching first and fourth grades at Aberdeen Elementary. She fondly remembered those days of hands-on science lessons and homemade crafts.

In 1971, she completed a master's degree with reading certification from Xavier University. Shortly afterward, Norma took on the role of coordinating the Title I program for the Adams County/Ohio Valley School District. The Title I program had been launched only a few years earlier to improve reading, writing and math skills among low-income urban and rural students.

After retiring from the Ohio Valley Schools in 1986, Norma continued her work as an educator, serving as a Homebound instructor for the Mason County School District and teaching adult basic education at Maysville Community College. One of her greatest joys later in life was helping her grandchildren and great-grandchildren learn the pleasures of being strong readers.

Norma was known as an active member of the community. Over the years, she taught Sunday School and served in various other roles at First Baptist Church of Maysville. She served as president of the International Reading Association of Southern Ohio and of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Maysville. She was a longtime member of the Mason County Homemakers and, more recently, joined the Limestone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Her neighbors know that she had a great zeal and knack for gardening and eagerly awaited springtime so that she could get outside in her yard. Norma also loved drawing and painting; took up carpentry in her 70s; and eagerly traveled around the state, nation and world with various family members. Perhaps her greatest source of pride, however, was seeing all five of her children graduate from college, with two earning the highest degrees in their fields.

Services for Norma Stewart will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Knox & Brothers Funeral Home, 625 East Second Street in Maysville, Ky. Visitation will begin at noon, with burial following services in Maysville Cemetery.

Friends may sign the guestbook at www.knoxbrothersfuneralhome.com.