Norma Ray Kloes

NORMA RAY DYCUS-DONALDSON-JANES-KLOES, age 86, of Missouri City, Texas, passed away Friday, July 22, 2011, after an extended illness. She was born June 22, 1925, in the small town of Piggott, Arkansas, to Bishop Reid and Eva Rae Lawrence Dycus, as the middle of three girls. For a small town girl, Norma lived a world-wide life. Attending college in Elkins, West Virginia, she met and married Charles Howard Donaldson on October 22, 1946, which began a life-time of travel as a military wife and mother to two daughters. They lived in West Virginia, Indiana (twice), Georgia, Colorado, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, Heidelberg and Stuttgart, Germany, and San Antonio, Texas. While in Germany the family traveled to Italy, France, and most memorably, East Berlin during the 1960’s. Retirement brought them to Houston where Norma had her dream house built in Clear Lake in 1968. In 1972 a career opportunity resulted in relocation to Phoenix, Arizona where Charles died a short two years later. Returning to her family in Houston, Norma became the matriarch of her small family and the best Mimi ever to her grandchildren. She went back to college, graduating from the University of Houston/Clear Lake. Always a believer in Christ and gifted with a beautiful voice, Norma became active in the Westbury Christian Church choir. She taught Sunday school and bible school and made some wonderful friends and memories.

Starting the second chapter of her life, Norma met and married John Lloyd Janes, much to the delight of both families. Mimi inherited an additional five adult children, eventually an additional eight grandchildren, and became the center of a large loving family. John and Norma moved to Quail Valley in the early 1980’s and became involved in the First Methodist Church of Missouri City, where she joined the choir, the women’s bible study, and Sunday school. After a lengthly illness, her beloved John passed away New Year’s Day 2001.

Being a kind and generous spirit, Norma shared her love to those in need. Recently widowed she met a recent widower, Deris Kloes, the father of the church choir director, and Norma felt she had found someone in need of caring and love. They married in April 2001 and soon Deris became the center of her life. In 2009 Deris fulfilled his dream of moving to Florida to live on the water and fish. In failing health, Deris passed away July 26, 2010.

Norma with her own failing health returned to her loving family in Missouri City. The past year with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren by her side, she began to flourish with love and attention. The return of the sparkle in her eyes and smile on her lips made us feel blessed with her presence. We were so grateful to have had this past year with our beloved Mimi. Her faith was strong enough to surround all of us. She was the role model for patience, love, and tenderness. Her kisses, hugs, and “I love you” are already missed but we take comfort that she is free from illness and with our Lord and Savior. She is being embraced by her loved ones who preceded her: parents; three husbands; sister, Lyne Smith; and nephew, Donald Repaci. Norma is survived by her two daughters, Nancy Thompson of Missouri City, TX, and Kathy Longshore and her husband Marvin of Flipin, Arkansas; sister, Jennie Repaci of Nakonis, FL; grandchildren, Nikki Thompson-Braddick of Houston, J. Scott Thompson, of Missouri City, TX, Heather Longshore-Barthelme of Fort Riley, KS, and Dallas Wade Longshore of Alvin, TX; and great-grandchildren, Beau, Ashleigh, and Emily Braddick, all of Houston.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 1220 FM Road 1092, Missouri City, with a visitation beginning at 10:00 AM prior to the service. Interment will be held at 12:00 PM, Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston.

For those desiring, memorials in Norma’s memory may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association @www.alz.org, or to Silverado Hospice, 2205 Williams Trace Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77478.