Norma Jean Hewett, age 88, of McKinney, Texas, passed away January 28, 2025. Norma was born March 12, 1936, in Quitaque, Texas, to J. T. and Josephine (Seay) Persons. She married Rayford Lynn Hewett on August 4, 1956, in Quitaque, Texas.
She is survived by her husband, Rayford Hewett of McKinney, Texas; children, Jonathan Hewett and wife, Ellyn, of Celina, Texas, Sarah Battle and husband, Jeff, of Tom Bean, Texas, and Amy Smith and husband, Brandon, of Turkey, Texas; grandchildren, Catherine Hewett, Joshua Hewett, Lindsey Hewett, Grace Ehmke and husband, Michael, Bethany Battle, Braydon Smith, and Jayton Smith; great-grandson, Stellen Ehmke; and nieces, Julie Persons, Jenny Gray, and Susan Kaether.
Norma was a “panhandle of Texas” girl. Her graduating class had 9 seniors. She rode horses and played basketball and many of her friends from those years remained in touch throughout their lives. She met her husband of 68 years when they were both at Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, Texas. They raised their three children with his electrician’s pay and her skills as a homemaker. The family vacationed in RV’s in New Mexico, Arizona and Yellowstone Park. She cared for her parents as they aged. Norma faced health challenges for many years. She always appreciated her care-givers.
A large factor in Norma’s life was her relationship with the Lord Jesus. She served the Lord through her local Baptist church. Whenever they moved, she and Rayford found a new Baptist church, in Lubbock, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Alvarado, Quitaque, Granbury, Ft. Worth, Weatherford and finally, Celina. Norma was a Sunday School Teacher, VBS Director, and Church Pianist. Her children had a “drug” problem, being “drug” to church for all church services and functions. Church music and choir was important to her. Many pastors and evangelists shared meals at the family table.
She was preceded in death by her parents, J. T. and Jo Persons, brother, Tad Persons, sister, Barbara J. Kaether, and grandson, Caleb Connor Battle.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 3, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church, 8382 CR 128, Celina, Texas, 75009. Interment will follow at Cottage Hill Cemetery in Celina. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Sunday, February 2, 2025, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 109 S. Oklahoma Dr., Celina, Texas, 75009.
The family suggests memorials be directed toward Bethel Baptist Church, Celina, Texas or the Persons Family Scholarship at First National Bank of Quitaque, Texas.