She was born in Rosepine, LA, and moved to Lake Charles at a young age. She graduated from LaGrange High School in 1950, the first class to go 12 grades. Norma loved to sing and was a member of the Sweet Adelines. In 1952, at the age of 19, she married the love of her life, Willie "Corky" Burns. They were married for 61 years until his Home-going to meet his Savior in 2014. Norma was a member of Westside Baptist Church and celebrated her faith in many church ministries. She was active in Choir, Quilting Angels, and most notably, Norma taught Sunday School for 45 years impacting many young lives. After her husband’s retirement from CITGO, Corky and Norma joined the SOWER (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready) group, a Christian couple's RV ministry providing volunteer help to Christian organizations in the U.S. and Canada. She also loved quilting and watching birds; hummingbirds were her favorite.
Those left to celebrate her life are her five children: Dee Dee Kingham and husband, Darrell, Steve Burns, and wife, Rene', all of Lake Charles, LA, Beth Finnigan and husband, Terry of Keller, TX, Cammie Middleton and husband, Mike of Franklin, TN, and Patricia Medina of Lake Charles, LA, sisters-in-law, Betty Kiser of Lake Charles, LA and Doris Burns of Amarillo, TX, ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Corky, her parents, Almer and Viola Kiser, her sister, Eva Mae Andrus, and her brother, Paul Kiser.
The family would like to extend a very heart-felt "Thank you!" to her sitter and friend, Sandy Smith and Anita, Ouida, Renee, and Stephanie of Heart of Hospice.
Her funeral will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at Hixson's Funeral Home in Lake Charles. Services will be conducted by Pastor Luke Liechty. Visitation is Friday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Hixson’s in Lake Charles. Burial will be at Old Ritchie Cemetery in Moss Bluff under the direction of Hixson's. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Quilting Angels or the Playground Fund of Westside Baptist Church or the Gideon Organization. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com
