Norma Zue Gross

Norma Zue Gross, age 90, of Sun Lakes, Arizona passed away on Sunday, March 13, 2022. Norma was born November 30, 1931 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Katherine and J. D. Anderson. Her unique middle name was in memory of her maternal grandmother, Missouri Barnes, whose nickname was Zue. Norma was raised in Bartlesville with her three older siblings. She graduated from Bartlesville College-High in 1949, and worked as a secretary at Phillips Petroleum Company.

In the mid-1950s, on a blind date, Norma met Major Carl G. Gross, an Air Force pilot from Michigan who was serving as the base commander at “Radar Hill” just outside of Bartlesville. They were married in December 1955, and the very next month began the odyssey that was Carl’s military career, taking them in all four directions. From Oklahoma east to Massachusetts, where Norma worked as a secretary at MIT before becoming a full-time homemaker when daughter Elizabeth was born; next, south to Alabama where son David was born; then north to upstate New York; south again to coastal South Carolina. In late 1963 Carl went far north to the Arctic Circle to serve as base commander of remote Ft. Yukon in Alaska—no facilities for families there—so during that year Norma and the kids stayed in West Texas to be near her sisters. Then further west to Northern California where in 1966 Carl retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel, and began his second career at Lockheed in the Bay Area. The family settled in San Jose for the next 25 years. From 1956-1966 Norma made 7 moves in 10 years with two young kids, always an attentive and devoted mother.

In 1991 Norma and Carl decided to spend their retirement years in Sun Lakes, Arizona. They enjoyed occasional travel (international and domestic), golf, spending time with family and friends. After a lifetime of good health, Carl passed in 1997, succumbing to cancer. As she faced widowhood, it was a great comfort to Norma to have her family nearby. At the time all of her siblings she’d always been so close to were also living in Sun Lakes.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, husband Carl, stepdaughter Carolyn Kaiser, sister Charlotte Eberhart and brother-in-law Roy L. Eberhart, brother Bob Anderson and sister-in-law Doris Anderson. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Gross, her son David Gross, stepdaughter Marolyn Poirrier, sister Pat A. Withers, as well as beloved nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Norma was an accomplished artist (oil painting) and—while it may not have been her favorite pastime—an excellent cook. She had a great sense of humor and could always lend a sympathetic ear. It was gratifying to hear so many family and friends, on hearing of Norma’s passing, say “I loved Norma” or “She was my favorite….” So, in short, Norma leaves a legacy of love and understanding.

In keeping with Norma‘s wishes there will be no funeral service. The family will have a celebration of life at a future date. Those closest to her will miss her and remember her each day.