Norma Doubet was a magnificent woman, beautiful inside and out. She was born Norma Mae Hill on April 25th, 1928, in Springfield, Illinois, the beloved only child of Maffett Newton Hill and Vera Howard hill. As a youngster, she moved to East Peoria, graduating from East Peoria High School. She recalled exhibiting even then a trait which was to be a signature of hers for all her life: a commitment to dressing up and dressing well! In high school, the popular fashion for the girls was to wear scuffed and unpolished saddle shoes. She, on the other hand, would polish her saddle shoes to a gleam! Some of her classmates would tease her, but it was all good fun, and she said that’s just the way she liked to do it, and did for all her life!
After graduating from high school, she worked in Peoria, also singing occasionally with big bands of the area. During this time, she caught the eye of the love of her life. Norma’s first date with Earl Doubet was a blind date, skillfully arranged by friends, in which a group of friends went to Starved Rock State Park for the day. Love blossomed from that point!
Norma and Earl were married on January 28th, 1951, a marriage of 69 years until Earl’s passing in 2020. Their marriage began an eye-popping trek around the globe. Norma and Earl‘s relationship enabled Earl’s career at Caterpillar Tractor Company to advance from tour guide up to the executive offices. Norma said that Earl‘s career accomplishments were all his, yet her friends and loved ones knew it was both of them. During their Caterpillar career, they moved to 12 different cities, including four moves to foreign countries. During nine of these moves, including three foreign countries, they had children living at home. Imagine the logistics required of Norma to set up home in each of these places: choosing and decorating a home, finding where to shop, entertaining business guests, learning a foreign language, choosing schools! Norma did it superbly! She established a legacy of character, love and graciousness that will be passed down through each generation of her family.
Following the death of Earl in April, 2020, Norma lived independently in her Peoria home. However, on March 31st of this year she suffered a devastating stroke that led to her passing in Lutheran Hillside Village on Tuesday, August 3rd.
Norma was preceded in death by Earl and by her loving parents.
Norma is survived by her sons, Earl Wesley Doubet III and his wife, Debbie, of Houston, Texas, and Steven Hill Doubet and his wife, Tricia, of Lucas, Texas, and by her grandchildren Lauren Doubet Ballard and her husband, Cole, of Lehi, Utah, Jennifer Doubet Lyons and her husband, Nick, of Houston, Texas, Alexander Wesley Doubet and his wife, Katie, of Dallas, Texas, Christopher Glenn Doubet and his husband, Tony, of Dallas, Texas, Christiana Kittelson of Seattle, Washington, Gunnar Kittelson of Dallas, Texas, Shannon Copenhaver and her husband, Doug, of Houston, Texas, Brandon Copenhaver and his husband, Sommer, of Plentywood, Montana, plus she is survived by seven great grandchildren with one on the way!
Norma was a longtime member of First Federated Church in Peoria. Also she was a member of Peoria Country Club for 45 years.
Visitation will be Friday, August 13, 2021 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.
During Norma’s memorial service we will also memorialize Norma’s husband, Earl Doubet. He passed last year at a time with only 10 people including clergy could attend his service. So, we intend on remembering this great man.
Please send any memorials and flowers to the Care Center of Lutheran Hillside Village on Galena Road in Peoria, Illinois. Norma was a Christian, and the angel caregivers of Lavender Lane gave exceptional compassionate and Christian care to Norma the last three months of her life.
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Lutheran Hillside Village Care Center, Peoria, Illinois
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