Norma was born on November 2, 1943, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to Wayne and Glata Simpson. She was raised with strong values of faith, family, and service—principles that guided her throughout her life and were evident to all who knew her.
Norma shared a devoted marriage with her husband of 49 years, Marvin C. Franz, and together they built a loving and close-knit family. She was a dedicated and nurturing mother and took great joy in the lives of her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her children: Brent Adkisson of Denton, Texas; Galen Franz and his wife, Leslye, of Victoria; Jason Franz and his wife, Tammy, of Midfield; Barrett Franz and his wife, Debbie, of Bay City; and Tammy Owens and her husband, John, of Waco, Texas. She is also survived by her sisters, Linda Hardesty of Glenpool, Oklahoma, and Carla Simpson of Jenks, Oklahoma; her brothers, John Simpson of Glenpool, Oklahoma, and James Simpson of Jenks, Oklahoma; and her brother in-law Cliff Crawford of Glenpool, Oklahoma. Norma was proceeded in death by her sisters Joyce Crawford and Wanda Covey. Norma was richly blessed with eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom were a constant source of pride and joy.
A woman of deep faith and service, Norma was an active and devoted member of First United Methodist Church, as well as The Decora Study Club and the Victoria Symphony League. She generously gave of her time and talents and was known for her warmth, grace, and genuine care for others. A courageous cancer survivor, Norma faced life’s challenges with remarkable strength, faith, and quiet determination.
Norma shared a lifelong spirit of adventure with her husband. In 1982, she and Marvin fulfilled a shared dream by earning their private pilot’s licenses together, a testament to her curiosity, courage, and enthusiasm for new experiences. In the years that followed, they took great joy in flying to Oklahoma for holidays and family gatherings, cherishing the time spent with Norma’s extensive and much-loved family, to whom she was deeply devoted.
Norma also used her great creativity and expressed it through her many crafts and hobbies. She enjoyed collecting jewelry, often going to the jewelry show with her close friends yearly, as well as purchasing antiques and decorating her home. Furthermore, Norma’s curiosity was devoted into her ancestral background. She was deeply enriched by her heritage as a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
Friends and family are invited to gather for a visitation on Friday, January 2, at First United Methodist Church, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Rev. Dr. Celia Halfacre.
Interment will take place afterward at Memory Gardens Cemetery, with an escorted cortège.
Honored to serve Mrs. Franz as pallbearers are:
John Simpson III, James Simpson II, Dale Bushyhead, Mathew Simpson, David Tagliabue, and Jeff Pozzi
Family and friends are invited to share memories, words of comfort, and condolences by visiting www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
Norma Franz will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her devotion to family, her generous spirit, and the quiet strength with which she lived her life. Her legacy of love will continue in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her
