Norma Jean (Bauer) McMinimy

Norma was born in Glasgow, Montana to Emil and Mildred (Childs) Bauer and grew up in Nashua Montana. At the age of 18, after graduating from Nashua High School, she packed her bags and moved to Spokane, Washington to attend Kinman Business University. While there she met and married the love of her life, Richard (Dick) McMinimy, on June 30, 1956 (it didn’t hurt that he looked like Elvis, Tee-Hee). The two of them would lead a long and active life together, traveling to far-off destinations; Alaska, Thailand, Turkey, Germany, all over Europe, Belize, and China amongst them. Her husband joined the Air Force and was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. She still lived in Spokane and so they exchanged many love letters, all written in shorthand, so no prying eyes could read them. She eventually joined her husband in Alaska where her first two children (Richard, 1957 and Deanna, 1958) were born. The family moved several times to locations around the country and the world and had two more children. Geri was born in 1961 in Biloxi, Mississippi and Randy was born in 1964, in Tucson, Arizona. Norma was a Band Parent, running the concession stand at football games, held every different office in several of her Square Dance clubs and was a Campfire Girls Leader in Bangkok, Thailand and in Oklahoma. Norma was an active member of her VFW Auxiliary in several towns, participating in activities and meetings.

Norma’s career was very exciting. The family moved to Bangkok in 1969 and Norma was able to put her education to work. She worked as an Administrative Secretary to the Adjutant General, at Joint U.S. Military Command (JUSMMAT), and as an English Language Teacher for Thai students at the American Alumni University Association. Upon their return to San Antonio, Texas in 1972, Norma took a job at Sommers Drug Store. She was then hired as an Executive Secretary at Kelly Air Force Base. While living in Ankara, Turkey, 1976-1978, she worked as an Executive Secretary at The U.S. Logistics Group (TUSLOG). Upon returning to San Antonio once again, she worked at Randolph AFB. In 1984, Norma and her husband moved to Houston, Texas and both started working at Johnson Space Center, with NASA and the Space Shuttle program. As an Executive Secretary she rubbed elbows with astronauts, actors, and VIPs until her retirement in 1998.

Norma and her husband were avid Square and Round dancers, even part of an exhibition group for many years. They also took up Ballroom and Polka dancing and were members of two Camping Squares clubs in Texas. She was dancing right up until the end. Norma was an amateur radio operator, speaking to operators around the globe. She held a Ham Radio License until her death. She loved to travel, go RVing and take both ocean and riverboat cruises. Above all else, she absolutely loved visiting Las Vegas every chance she got. Norma was always up for an adventure and enjoyed being the life of the party. She never shied away from a good time.

After the passing of her beloved husband Dick, she expressed a desire to live out her remaining days at Canyon Lake, Texas. That desire became a reality in July of 2015. She enjoyed lakeside living and taking care of an extended family of deer until her death.

Norma is preceded in death by her husband, Richard McMinimy, and her parents and siblings.

She is survived by her daughters Deanna and Geri (Bill) Swanson; sons Richard (Zarai) and Randy (Mary). She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and has had several pets and grand-pets throughout the years.

A graveside service for Norma will be held Monday, July 11, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78209.

On behalf of Norma, the family would like to thank the Canyon Lake Fire Department, the Surgical Trauma Unit (T2) at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC/SAMMC), Suncrest Hospice, and Zoeller Funeral Home for their compassion and support.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Norma's memory may be made to Fisher House, Wounded Warrior Project, and VFW Post #8573 Ladies Auxiliary, PO Box 1576, Canyon Lake, Texas 78133

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