Norma Evelyn "Tiny" Ford Gerace

Norma Evelyn "Tiny" Ford Gerace passed away peacefully on October 30, 2026, after 96 years of a life fully lived. Visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 10:00, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.

Tiny was the model of unconditional love as wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She never missed an opportunity to give a compliment and a smile, or to point out an educational opportunity, no matter how obscure.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Leroy and Ethel Jean Ford; her beloved husband of 54 years, Col. Joseph Gerace; brother, Frank M. Ford; and sister Dorothy Jean "Dot" Ford Gallman.

She is survived by two daughters, Virginia "Ginny" Benoist (Paul) of Baton Rouge, and Mary Kay Gerace of Baton Rouge; grandchildren Mary Turner Benoist, Joseph "Joe" Carleton, and John Carleton; great-grandchildren; her brother John C. Ford (Beryl) of Leesville.

On the Ford side of her family, she is survived by two nephews Darryl Hinson and Daniel Ford; one niece, Sarah Ford Belsha; one great-niece, Hillary Hinson; and three great-nephews, Ian, Ethan, and Matthew Belsha. On the Gerace side, she was the last of her generation, and is survived by many Gerace, Culotta, Pepe, and Youngblood nieces and nephews, great and great-great.

Norma was born and raised in Leesville, Louisiana, and remained a proud Wampus Cat of Leesville High School to the very end. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology from Louisiana Tech University, and a Master's Degree in Education from LSU. She began her career in science as a registered medical laboratory technologist with the U.S. Department of Defense (where she met her husband, then-Captain Joseph Gerace), and later, with the Baton Rouge General Hospital, and the Department of Agriculture's Diagnostic Laboratory. She assisted in the autopsy on LSU's first Mike the Tiger.

In 1958, Norma began a 30-year teaching career at Baton Rouge High, teaching high school and A.P. biology to thousands of students. Because of her determination to secure grants from private foundations, her students benefitted from one of the finest equipped biology labs in the school system, such that every student had an assigned microscope. She co-founded the Jr. Academy of Sciences and the Honors Science Club International Science Fairs. Because she believed in finding an educational opportunity in every moment, she led many student groups on science field trips in the U.S., Caribbean, Europe, and North Africa, sparking a travel bug in nearly every young participant. She was tremendously gratified -- even proud -- to know that her guidance inspired many students to pursue careers in science and medicine.

After retirement, she began her day with people to see and places to go, dressed to hit the street.

She and Joe traveled throughout the U.S. and to every continent except Antarctica. She was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma, Daughters of the American Revolution, U.S. Daughters of 1812, Colonial Dames of America XVII C, La. Colonials, La. Retired Teachers Assoc., EBR Retired Teachers, LeLivre Book Club, Military Officers Association of America Auxiliary, Military Order of World Wars, Board member of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, and docent at Rural Life Museum and the Old State Capitol.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Louis Minsky and his kind staff; the wonderful staff of Southside Gardens Assisted Living, who never failed to care for our mother as their own, with patience, love, and devotion.

She will reunite with her husband Col. Joseph Gerace at Arlington National Cemetery, in Washington D.C., Section 60, 60763