Norma Louise Greene

Norma Louise Greene was born to Raymond “Rudy” and Estelle M. (Bearden) Gibson on July 8, 1925, in Purcell, Oklahoma. She was the firstborn of five children. She grew up in Purcell, graduating from Purcell High School in 1944. Upon graduation, Norma embodied the spirit of “Rosie the Riveter” and immediately went to work at the Douglas Aircraft Plant in Oklahoma City where she did her part in the war effort, assembling planes and related equipment while the men were overseas fighting WWII. When the war ended in 1945, she went to work at the McClain County courthouse as the deputy court clerk from 1945 until 1951. Norma wed the love of her life, Doyle Douglas Greene, on August 10, 1946 in Purcell. They remained married for 64 years until Doyle’s passing on May 25, 2011. To this union were born two sons, Gary Mark in 1953 and Grady Douglas in 1958. Once the boys were born, Norma was a full time homemaker, which she loved. As a young family they camped for vacations at lakes around Oklahoma with extended family. Many share fond memories and fabled stories of a bus-turned-camper that Grandpa Rudy had converted for sleeping quarters for his many grandchildren, who would all pile in the old bus at night. The search for steady work led the family to West Texas, and on to Chickasha for a short time before they finally settled permanently in Lindsay, OK in 1969. There, they made their home on Cherokee Place, making lifelong friends and wonderful neighbors. Around 1977, Norma became very ill, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis which she battled until her death. Although the illness altered her plans somewhat, she fought it with the toughness and determination instilled in her from her childhood experiences of The Great Depression and WWII, where money was always tight, but they never seemed to go hungry. Norma spoke about how her dad would go out and shoot squirrels on an afternoon, and that would serve as dinner that night. After the boys graduated and left home, Norma was able to work briefly at her beloved Dollar Store in Lindsay. You see, Norma was the consummate shopper. She scoured the newspaper for coupons, and always searched for sales and bargains. She was ecstatic when Lindsay finally got a WalMart. She never, ever turned down an invitation to go shopping! Norma, or “Topsy” as she was known by her family, was a “Gibson girl” who was richly blessed with the gift of gab. She could carry a conversation all on her own. Often, it was difficult to phone Norma because the line would be busy. There was never a “quick call” to Norma, that is, until call waiting was born. Norma was not one to let a call go unanswered. She kept up with her family and friends by phone when she was unable to visit in person due to her physical limitations. Her home was always open to visitors, be it family, friend, or other. She never met a stranger. She loved to laugh and sit and visit with anyone who would listen. One of the highlights of her life was when Norma became “Granny” in 1972 with the birth of Christopher Doyle, who was followed by three more grandsons: Mikael Roy, Philip Clayton and Robert Ryan Greene. They were her world. She was a staunch defender of her loved ones. To Norma, her kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were perfect. One wrong word and she would pounce! Norma was a legendary story teller, and she could tell tales (some tall and some not so tall) for days on end. She had an infectious and loud laugh, and it was beautiful. Norma was preceded in death by her husband and her parents; three brothers and a sister-in-law, Harold Gibson, and wife, Jeanne; Douglas Gibson, and Rudy Allen Gibson; and a brother-in-law, Harry F. “Whitey” Herell. She will be missed dearly. She leaves to cherish her memories her sister, Yvonne Trudgeon, and husband, Bill, of Edmond, Okla.; sons, Gary, of Wynnewood, Okla., and Grady, and wife, Sharon, of Collinsville, Okla.; her 4 grandsons: Chris Greene, and wife, Lyndi, and Mikael Greene, all of Choctaw; Philip, and wife, Kirsten, of Lawton, and Robert, of Collinsville. Six great-grandchildren, Bryce, Brady, Austin, Addyson, Bradlee and Clayton; nieces, Pamela Boyett, Christine Thompson, and Donna Fox, nephews, Keith Herell and wife, Debbie, and Harold (Hal) Gibson, Jr.; her former daughter-in-law, Patti Scott; a special cousin, Daisy Nell Stevens, of Norman; special friends who were honorary family: Dorthy Scoggins, Mary Fuller, and Barbara & Wayne Holsey, and many others, and numerous great- nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Winans Funeral Home, 405 Sixth Street, Maysville, OK. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, May 16, 2016 at the Abundant Love Fellowship in Maysville with burial in the Hillside Cemetery, Purcell under the direction of John W. Williams of Winans Funeral Home, Maysville. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.winansfuneralhome.com