Norma Lee
Sons
IN LOVING MEMORY
Norma Lee Sons
Jun 14 1930 - May 02 2011
May 02 2011
The soul of Norma Sons left this earth on May 2nd after a long and courageous battle with emphysema and congestive heart failure. Because of the way she lived her life, we know that her soul is winging its way to heaven, to be safely held with her loved ones who have gone before her and until she is reunited with those she leaves behind.
Norma was a native Texan, born in Zepher, Texas. Norma weighed only 2.5 lbs. when she was born and her head was so small it fit inside a teacup so she was nicknamed “The Baby”. Because she was so small, they weren’t sure she would make it, but she continued to surprise everyone and eventually grew into a tomboy, full of mischief and with a penchant for getting into hot water.
She moved to Big Springs and lived in a 2nd story apartment. She recalled that she and her sister used to spit on people’s heads from the 2nd story window as they walked on the sidewalk below. They got a major spanking from their mom when they got caught.
The next stop was Foursan, Texas. This is where Norma, being a little firebug, set the 2-story house on fire by accident. She said she was only trying to burn the weeds under the fence at the time, but things got out of hand. There was also a woman who lived nearby who introduced her to dipping snuff. She had a major crush on a boy named Billy Brown.
They then moved to Ackerly, Texas where her grandmother had a farm. She stated that this was her happiest time and this was where she learned the meaning of hard work.
Then it was on to Rule, Texas where they lived in the back of a barber shop. She remembers her mother putting her to bed at night and pinning her in the sheets so the rats wouldn’t get to her.
She lived in numerous places in Texas and the west until she married and settled in El Paso. She met her future husband, Jerry, when she lived in Brownsville. They won a dance contest together dancing to “In The Mood” by Glenn Miller. Their prize was a case of beer and they decided they would meet at the dance hall occasionally and share their prize and dance. They were both great dancers and made a great couple, before and after they were married.
She began raising her 2 daughters and took college courses to get her Real Estate license and soon thereafter, her Broker’s license in 1969. She opened her own Real Estate office and became well-known as a mover and a shaker in the El Paso business world. She was the 2nd women to be elected to the El Paso Board of Realtors in the 59 year history of the organization and was the 1st woman golf chairman for the Texas Real Estate Convention in El Paso. She was a Real Estate Broker up until the time of her death.
As part of her work experience, she managed a small country club in Anthony, New Mexico and during that time also opened the only office supply store in the town. Her store also served as the Chamber of Commerce Office, Western Union Office and the UPS site. Also during that time, she ran for judge in Dona Ana County New Mexico, running against an opponent who was a Hispanic male and was the 8-year Democrat incumbent. Because of her energy, tenacity and desire to serve the public, she only lost by 2% of the votes. Amazing!
While in El Paso, Norma served numerous offices at the country club she was a member of which include:
Del Norte Board of Governors as Secretary for the membership meetings
Treasurer of the Del Norte Ladies Golf Association
Started a teen club at the country club and served as chairperson
Sponsored numerous golf tournaments at Horizon Country Club
When she moved to Houston, she became a manager for Shurgard Storage Company and she was named and recognized as Nationwide Manager for the company.
Norma was always a hard worker, loved a good party, was a wonderful cook, enjoyed spending time with her family, never met a stranger and was a generous person. If someone she knew didn’t have anyone to spend a holiday dinner with, she would invite them to sit down with her family. She enjoyed planting vegetable gardens, taking car trips with her daughters and singing lots of country songs as long as they had a good beat.
She was a very good golfer and one of her favorite places to visit was Ruidoso, New Mexico and Hawaii. Her favorite place to eat in El Paso was Leo’s, where she would get the enchilada dinner and sopaipillas for dessert with lots of honey.
She lived for her daughters, who she raised with love and a firm hand, to ensure they would grow up to be the best women they could be. It was her legacy of being a strong woman, one with an enduring work ethic, who proved from the beginning until her death, that if you worked hard enough and sacrificed for those you love, then those she loved best would be the gifts she left on this earth.
Those of us who love her will find the world a little less bright with her gone, but we will always have the many wonderful memories of who she was to sustain us through the times we miss her the most. We will have her forever in our hearts, as she had us in hers until the very end of her life.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband and her two sisters.
Survivors include her two daughters, DeDe Woodling and Penny Farrall and her husband Bruce Farrall, her 3 grandsons, Preston and Conner Farrall and John Woodling. Her two nieces, Kay Trimm and Jackie Earnhart.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 9, 2011, at 4:00 p.m., at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel, in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park, Allen, Texas. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.
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