Norma Jean Burton

Norma Jean Burton (Welch) died peacefully at her home on Sunday, August 2, 2015, surrounded by her family. Norma was born June 26, 1932, in Meeker, Oklahoma. She was the first born child to live of Emmett Frank Welch and Dortha Jewel Broyles Welch. She was the oldest of eight. Mom was diagnosed with Parotid gland cancer in July 2013. She fought valiantly, but she fell in April and broke her hip. Her sweet body could handle no more. She was so happy to be in her home her last week. She got to sleep in her bed, sit on her couch, and drink her coffee. Norma Jean grew up on a Dairy farm in Aydelotte, OK, eight miles north of Shawnee. She went to Pleasant Hill School, and then to St. Benedicts School in Shawnee, where she graduated at sixteen in 1949. She attended the Universities of Oklahoma, Colorado, and Houston, earning her B.S. in Psychology. She worked toward her Masters in Health Administration at UT Houston. She worked for the Veterans Administration in five different states until 1975, when she bought her mother's apparel store in Shawnee. With her job for the V.A., she packed and moved herself and three kids to four different states in a little over three years all by herself. She owned the Fashion Shop and later Maiden Voyage in Downtown Shawnee until retiring in the mid-90's. She moved to Oklahoma City to help raise her grandchildren and be closer to family. Norma leaves behind her three children: Charles Lee Burton II, Ft. Smith, ARK, Carolyn Jean Burton Watkins and husband Wade (OKC), and Catherine Burton Anderson and husband Scott (OKC); grandchildren and lights of her life: Julie Watkins, Peter Watkins, and Delaney Anderson; Siblings: Dorothy and husband, Charles Blackwood; Bud and wife, Lois Welch; Gloria and husband, Bill Murphy; Gerarda Kelcy; Frank and wife, Becky Welch; Kathy Robins; and Mike Welch. Living In-laws: Jim and Jeanine Burton, Howard and Gladys Watkins, and Tia and Jeff Creamer. She had many cousins and well over 50 nieces and nephews she loved so much. She also had many dear friends from all over the nation. She is preceded in death by her parents, her father and mother-in-law, Carl and Willie Catherine Burton; all of her aunts and uncles except Clifford Parrott from Missouri; nephews and nieces: Michael Kuhn, Dorothy Ellen Kuhn, Gregory Welch, Julie Welch, Michael Burton, and Frank Burton; Ex-husband: Charles Lee Burton; Brothers/Sisters In-law: Carl and Rosie Burton; Frank Burton, Lee and Rosemarie Burton, and Patricia Burton Mays. Mom was a very kind and loving person. She cherished her independence. She would do anything for any one. After the death of her mother, she naturally assumed the role of family matriarch. She loved plants and possessed an amazing green thumb. She loved collecting china and silver, although hated to cook. She taught literacy in Shawnee and was a mentor at Douglas High School in OKC. She never let you get away with saying something grammatically incorrect. She always told you to "look it up" if you asked her how to spell something. Mom was a proud yellow-dog democrat and prayed that the death penalty would be abolished before she died. She truly only wanted people to be kind to one another. She lived her life just that way. She made everyone feel special when they were around her. The family thanks OU Medical Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Parcway Skilled Nursing, Good Shepherd Hospice, and her home care providers. In lieu of flowers, send donations to the Oklahoma County Veterans Diversion Program, Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office. An Evening Prayer Service will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Smith & Kernke on NW 23rd Street. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.