Norma Lillian Jones was born in Eldorado Springs, Missouri December 20th, 1921 to parents William Farrell Jones and Ruby Ellen Jones, the fifth of seven children. Norma spent her childhood on the family farm outside of Eldorado Springs, and graduated from Eldorado Springs High School.
During World War II, Norma worked in the Accounting and Payroll Office for the Army in Springfield, Missouri. Norma married the love of her life, Howard Dean Payne on June 20th 1942, and they were married 67 years until Howard’s death in 2009. They spent the early years of their marriage after the war in Springfield, then moved to Olathe, Kansas in 1949, where they lived in the same home until she moved in with her children in 2018 at the age of 96 in Overland Park, Kansas.
Norma had two children, Howard Michael (Mike) and Donald Perry. Shortly after moving to Olathe, Norma began to work at the Kansas School for the Deaf, and continued to work there until her retirement. She had a special spot in her heart for the children there, and it was not uncommon to have weekend visitors from the school stay at the house if they did not have a way to get home on the weekends. Norma was also very active with her church family, and was a member of First Baptist Church in Olathe since moving here. Over the years she was very active in Scouting, youth groups, various Circles and Bible studies, and most recently the Silver Saints. Her faith life was of the greatest importance to her, and she attended services weekly until she was unable to leave the house during Covid, at which time she switched to watching the livestream weekly.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ruby, and siblings Ada, May, Sylvia, Faye, Paul and Henrietta. She is survived by her sons Howard Michael (spouse Sara) and Donald Perry (spouse Peggy), six grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. She will be missed by all those she touched throughout her life, and leaves a legacy of being the best example of a wife,
mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and spiritual mentor that one could ever hope for.
In lieu of flowers, donations to First Baptist Church will be graciously accepted.
