Norma Jean McKissack

Norma Jean McKissack, beloved daughter of Etta Mae and Louis Charles Elliott, passed away peacefully at home at 11:09 p.m. on July 6th with granddaughter Marlene Earnest Spolane and daughter Sandra Elaine Earnest at her bedside.

Norma Jean was born in Anthony, Kansas on August 14, 1923. She was little sister to Kathryn Hershberger, a blessed memory, and big sister to Phillip Elliott, whom she is survived by and to Charles Elliott a blessed memory. She attended and graduated from Anthony High School. Regardless of the known fact that they went to rival high schools, she met and married Paul Jabez Allen on Christmas Day in 1941. On December 3, 1942 they welcomed their first child; Gary Lee, of Wichita, Kansas, into the world. On July 16, 1947 their family was made complete by the birth of their daughter, Sandra Elaine, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Their time was cut short as they lost their beloved father, Paul, to a heart attack in June 1961.

Jean met Roy William Mckissack at a dance in Oklahoma City. They married in a private ceremony on September 19, 1969 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their love affair lasted for 26 years until August 20, 1995 when Roy was taken by a heart attack brought on by cancer.

Norma Jean was a strong woman- a survivor. She was the one who always kept family together. She loved Christmas and enjoyed having everyone together at Thanksgiving. She was Oklahoma's "Jackie O" as she was known for being dressed head to toe-sporting her large sunglasses with a scarf over her head. She was a role model to all who knew her for not only her beauty but her strength as she was a breast cancer survivor. She devoted much of her time to organizations that include volunteering for the cancer society, being an active member of the Gem and Mineral Club, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, which she held the title of queen of the ball, and always made time to make jewelry, go ballroom dancing, travel, read, and sew. Norma Jean and Roy were snowbirds. Every fall they would hook up their fifth wheel and head off to warmer climates, which included New Mexico, Arizona and California. She loved to travel and some of her favorite destinations included Paris, Italy, Germany, Florence, Hawaii and Alaska.

Norma Jean is survived by her cherished daughter-in-law, Cheryl Allen, and her grandchildren: Patricia Conway, Marlene Spolane, Jerry Allen, Mark Allen (deceased), Deborah Velko, Michelle Howell, Brian Allen, Jeremy Earnest,

She has nineteen great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren.

She will be deeply missed and never forgotten..