Norma Louise Edsel

Norma Louise Morse Edsel was born February 23, 1931, in Oklahoma City, and went to her heaven on Sunday, February 2, 2020, in Dallas. In 1951, she married A. Ray Edsel, a World War II veteran. Their marriage lasted fifty-six years, until his death in 2008, but she never stopped loving him, even when all that was left was his memory. She is survived by: daughter Anne Jones, her husband John and their daughters, Jennifer and Brooke (Anas Absa); son Jim, his wife Nancy and their children, James, Jr. (Meredith), Philip (Grace), and Catherine (Preston Watson); son Robert, his wife Anna and their children Francesco and Rodney, and Robert’s son Diego; sister Marilyn Wright; niece Beth Evans and her husband Philip; niece Brooke Solcher and her husband Patrick. She is also survived by five beautiful great-grandchildren.

As a student at Oklahoma State University – when they were Aggies, not Cowboys, she was fond of pointing out – Norma was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta. In the years that followed, she continued to serve her sorority in various leadership positions. In addition to a beautiful singing voice, Norma enjoyed playing the piano. Before the birth of her children, she was a piano instructor in small western Oklahoma towns.

Her talents were many. In the kitchen, her skills as a gourmet cook included, at last count, nineteen separate desserts. Norma’s chocolate chip cookies became legendary. She loved travel just as much as she loved entertaining at home. Crossword puzzles and needlepoint filled time not spent running a household, caring for her family and volunteering in the community. Bridge and tennis became lifelong interests, so much so that she taught bridge for ten years. Attaining bridge “Life Master” status was a source of great pride. During the past ten years she all but adopted tennis great Rafael Nadal. His match schedule became hers, each tournament providing a chance to demonstrate her boundless support as she cheered and cried his every win and loss.

Norma believed in serving her community. She taught Sunday school and sang in the choir, gave piano recitals, and volunteered her time with many of the organizations she had joined over the years including the Dallas Symphony League, KAØ, Dallas Women’s Club, Dallas Garden Club, Book & Drama Review, and the Junior League of Dallas. In 1960, after relocating from Chicago to Dallas, Norma and Ray became devoted members of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. They were also longtime members of Dallas Country Club. However, nothing brought Norma greater joy than spending time with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom dearly loved their “Nana”.

A Celebration of Life service will take place on Friday, February 14, at 4pm in the Main Sanctuary of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, 4447 N. Central Expressway, Suite 110, #338, Dallas, Texas, 75205 or the charity of your choice.