Norma Ree Childre

She was born in Collinsville, Mississippi on January 13th,1936. Although Norma didn't have the opportunity to get a good education, she taught herself how to read and write and eventually became very good at it. She would read whatever she could get her hands on and would challenge herself doing difficult crossword puzzles. She also bowled in her younger years and had over 30 trophies to show for her talent then she later donated them to charity. When she retired at age 62, she decided to take up oil painting and discovered that she had talent as an artist and pursued painting, mostly landscapes, for many years. She was also able to sell some of her paintings and one of them is hanging in the Nueces County Appraisal District building and others were gifted to family members. She loved family game nights, staying up all night playing Scrabble or other board games, video games, or doing jigsaw puzzles. She was also an avid gardener who had a green thumb and could grow anything so we always had fresh vegetables, fruits, beautiful flowers, and plants. But most of all, she loved and cherished her family and always looked forward to family gatherings, especially the holidays. For about 20 years, her property was known as Easter Country and family and friends would get together on Easter for a reunion almost every year. She always looked forward to having her family and friends around her and it always brought her joy seeing everyone having a good time. She was a special lady, beautiful inside and out, with a heart of gold, and she touched the lives of so many people and was loved by all. She will always be remembered for her loving nature, her kindness, and her generosity and will be dearly missed by so many.

An honorable mention of the deceased who preceded her in death. Her father-Floyd Keen, mother-Kathryn Keen, sister-Ruth Wilkerson (husband Grady), sister-Mary Talbert (husband George), brother-JW Keen, sister-Lucille Crocker, sister-Shirley Owens (husband Fred), granddaughter-Katrina May, niece-Diane Lintz (husband Ed), niece-Bonnie Knight (husband Eddie), Great niece-Teresa Gonzalez (husband Greg), son-in-law-Al Hernandez, son-in-law-Jerry May, and daughter-in-law-Carol Graham.

She was survived by her children Gloria May, Kathy Hernandez ( husband Al, deceased), Joey Graham (wife Lula), and Kevin Childre.

She was survived by her grandchildren, Michael Aleman (partner Mario Amaro), Jason Aleman (wife Angelica), Jennifer Aleman, Philip Aleman (wife Lindsay), Ashley Hernandez (partner Rose Flores), Amanda Hernandez (fianceé Stephanie Treviño), Kim Smith (husband Lee), Melissa Walton (husband Benji), Joe Graham (wife Courtney), Meagan Pinegar, Michael Graham (wife Theresa).

Her surviving great grandchildren are Brian Bradford, Brittney Smith (husband Cody Welde), Jeremy Esparza, Jayce Aleman, Jason E. Aleman, Jacob Aleman, Aviana Aleman, Philicity Aleman, Patence Aleman, Chris Waggoner, Kensie Waggoner, Joel Waggoner, Jordan Waggoner, Kendall Aleman, Benji Walton, Jr., Logan Walton, Ryland Burton, and Baylor Graham.

Her surviving great-great grandchildren are Elijah Welde and Victoria Bradford.

She was also survived by her nieces Joyce Ray (husband Lou), Georgia Herriot (husband Sam), Tena Glaeser (husband Jerry), Linda Essary (husband James), Judy Gillespie (husband Mike), Rejeana Staton (husband Marty), Darla Potter, Kathy Wood (husband Robert deceased), Cecilia Poe (husband Philip), Gail Ainsworth (husband Ralph).

Surviving nephews are David Crocker, Kenneth Owens (wife Theresa), Freddie Owens (wife Shannon)

She was also blessed with many great and great-great nieces and nephews, many that were a big part of her life and she loved them all dearly.

The family would also like to give a heartfelt thank you to some special people who went beyond and above to be there for our mother. Her great-niece, Donna Odum and husband Kevin for helping take care of her during her last days and for all the beautiful flowers that would always put a smile on her face. Her niece, Tena Glaeser, husband Jerry, and daughter Sarah for loving her and being with her on her last day and for volunteering to buy the spray for her coffin. Her niece, Georgia Herriot for her genuine love for our mother and our family. Her granddaughters, Amanda Hernandez and Jennifer Aleman for helping take care of her, showing their love and support, spending endless hours at the hospital with her. Her granddaughters, Ashley Hernandez and Lindsay Aleman for always making her feel special and contributing the food for the service. Our longtime friend, now in heaven, Judy Winston, one of the funniest people we have ever known. She had a talent of remembering jokes and telling them, making us laugh so hard, sometimes we cried. Our longtime friends, Charlie and Liz Haire for always being more like a part of our family then just our friends. And, lastly, her niece Joyce Ray, who was more like a sister to her then a niece, thank you for all the love and happiness you gave her all of these years, it meant so much to her.

Pallbearers will be Michael Aleman, Jason Aleman, Philip Aleman, Jason E. Aleman, David Crocker and Kevin Odum. Honorary Pallbearers will be Amanda Hernandez and Jacob Aleman.

Funeral services will be held at Memory Gardens, 8200 Old Brownsville Rd., Corpus Christi, TX at 2:00 pm on October 26th, 2021. Viewing for the family will be at 12:00 pm and for the public at 12:30 pm.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemoryGardensFuneralHome.com for the CHILDRE family.