Mrs. Eleanor Adkins

Eleanor Adkins (Miku) was born August 24th, 1929 in Campbell, Ohio. She never cared for the name Eleanor and was known to all as Norie. She was the youngest of seven children born to Dan and Anna Miku. Norie was a high school graduate who had a love for learning. Norie married Lou Adkins on July 27th, 1957. She worked as a secretary for a number of years but once they began their family, she was able to be a full time homemaker. This delighted her heart.

Career life in the Air Force meant a lot of travel. Fortunately, Norie loved to explore new places. In 1961 they welcomed their first born and only daughter, Bonnie Lou. She was followed closely by Scott Jordan in 1962. Since Lou was stationed over seas during their infancies, he asked her to have “just one more” baby before closing the roster. God had different plans and twin boys, Patrick William and Michael Allen joined the family in 1966. Life took the family to Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Colorado, and Nevada before settling in Paramount in 1970. Being a wife, mother and grandmother were what Norie loved most.

When the family moved to the Chester Street home in Paramount it quickly became a refuge for many. No matter who spent time there, they were always welcomed with words of encouragement, laughter and “are you hungry?” from Norie. Countless people sat at her kitchen counter finding a sympathetic ear, a hug and always good food. Many of them spent a night, a week or a season and were treated as part of the family. Norie had the gift of hospitality…something that has been passed on to her children and is one of the strongest parts of her legacy.

If there was a theme in Norie’s life it was that people mattered. She loved deeply and well and found great joy in helping people believe in themselves. Her faith was evident and she was easily described as a prayer warrior. When her health started to fail, her commitment to praying for her family didn’t. Praying for them was how she spent most of her days in the last years.

Grandkids – though every grandmother thinks her grandkids are the greatest, Norie was confident that hers actually were. Grandma to Tyler, Blake, Chase, Tera, Scott Jr., Samantha, Chad, Ryan, Kaylee and Bo, life got sweeter as each of them was added to the family. Norie simply adored her grandkids and was an active grandma. Grandskids kept her in the yard playing baseball, in the driveway shooting baskets, at the table playing games and having tea parties, in the chair reading books and in the kitchen making whatever their heart’s desired. She loved to love them!

Norie passed away on the morning of January 13th with those she loved most gathered together holding her till she took her last breath. We are so grateful that we were blessed to be loved by such a servant-hearted woman. We will miss you mom but we celebrate that because of your love for Jesus, we will see you again in heaven.