Gera Lee Norris Crampton passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the age of 93 on June 16, 2025. She was born January 9, 1932 to Leonard Addison and Mignon (Harris) Norris in Palestine, Texas.
Gera grew up in Palestine and graduated from Palestine High School 1950. She attended one semester at Henderson County Community College before dropping out to work and help her mother care for her ailing father. She worked as a secretary at Texas Power & Light Company and heard the other office ladies gossiping about a “cute, blue eyed sailor boy” who had just come back from the Navy and was working downstairs. John Arthur “Jack” Crampton soon began dating Gera. They were married on June 17, 1955 in Palestine, Texas.
Although her grandmother told Jack “It doesn’t matter where you take her, she’ll always be Baptist,” Gera was a longtime member of The First United Methodist Church of McKinney. She and Jack were active in the Fellowship Class. Over the years, Gera was also a member of the En Avant Club, and the Heard Museum Guild. She worked many years as a secretary, retiring from Texas Instruments in 1991. She was a devoted mother who attended every baseball game, award ceremony, choir and band concert, and more. Her family is what mattered most to Gera.
Gera is survived by her “sweet daughter” Carol Crampton of McKinney, Texas; niece, Sara (Norris) Alleman and husband, Marty of Dallas, Texas; niece, Susanne Brickell of Denton, Texas; nieces, Lauren and Demi Milton of Corinth, Texas; nieces, Janet Engh, Glory Cochrane, and Katrina DeLima Spillman, all of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Diane Kaiser of Placitas, New Mexico; and Nancy Cochrane of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. She is also survived by nephews, Ryan Alleman of Dallas, Texas; Drew Alleman of Houston, Texas; nephews, Jeff Crampton and Gray Crampton, both of Henderson, Nevada. In addition, Gera is survived by cousin, Fonda Harris of Dallas, Texas, and several other family members and dear family friends.
Gera was preceded in death by the love of her life, Jack Crampton, her beloved son, John Gregory “Greg” Crampton, and her parents, Leonard and Mignon Norris. She was preceded in death by siblings Louise, Cleo, Gwen, Chandler, Alton, and Leo; niece, Lou Ann Norris, and nephew, Bruce Cochrane.
Carol would like to recognize the love, care, and patience of the staff of Princeton Medical Lodge. (in NO particular order) Opa, Jane, Rezi, Mary, Karen, Cassie, Ruthie, Tesfaye, Kenya, Lacey, Betsy, Meagan, Marie, Morgan, Anita, Janice, Natalie, Stephan and so many others whose names Carol cannot presently remember. Also a thank you to her sweet roommate, Marilyn, for being so wonderful and kind. God’s blessings to you all for the difficult, messy, and mostly thankless jobs and serves they perform each day. Thank you for loving my Mama.
The family will receive friends during a visitation to be held on Thursday evening, June 19, 2025 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 10:30 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church McKinney located at 315 North Church Street, McKinney, Texas 75069.
Following the service, Gera will be laid to rest with her husband at Ridgeview Memorial Park, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
The service will be livestreamed at SharingTheHeart.org/ceremonies/