Norma Jean Ballard

Norma Jean Ballard

Fairfield

Norma Jean Ballard, 93, of Fairfield, passed away at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, surrounded by her family at Savannah Heights in Mt. Pleasant.

Norma was born November 29, 1929, at home in Terre Haute, Illinois. She graduated high school in 1946. After high school she worked as a secretary in Quincy, Illinois, before moving to Burlington. She worked for Winegard for 32 years, and Schaefer Pen in Fort Madison for 11 years, before she moved to Lubbock, Texas, where she worked in the registration office at Texas Tech University. Upon retirement, Norma moved back to Iowa and lived with her sister and brother-in-law for many years in Hillsboro, before moving into the Calu apartments in Fairfield in 2007, where she remained until this past October.

Norma had a good, long life. She was of the Methodist faith and enjoyed reading from her Bible and singing hymns. Her favorite thing was spending time with her family and friends. She loved to read and play crossword puzzles, she was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs, and was an avid fan of Iowa Hawkeye basketball.

Norma is survived by her son, Mark Yocum, granddaughter Dana Wellington and great-granddaughter, Enola Wellington, nephews, Alan (Susan) Nelson and Rob (Tammy) Nelson, her niece, Pam (Jeremy) Neeley, her great-nieces, Amanda (Jeff) Alrhaus, Jessica (Chris) Stanford, and Riley Eckhoff; her great-nephews, Mike (Shannon) Nelson, Brad (Christina) Nelson, Kory (Mariah) Neeley, and Kyle (Brianna) Nelson and along with 13 great-great nieces and nephews, Madyson, Jovi, Piper, Damien, Lia, Sean, Sophia, Jaeden, Jake, Lilyann, Sloan, Lyndi, and Jonah.

Norma was preceded in death by her mother, Naomi Ballard, her sister, Inez Nelson, brother-in-law, Larry Nelson, niece, Linda Nelson, great-nephew, Jacob Nelson and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and very dear friends.

No public services will be held and cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant. Norma’s ashes will be interred at the Burlington Memorial Park Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa. It was her wish that her niece Jessica, who has cared for her for the last six years, be the one to set her to rest alongside her mother. Flowers can be sent to Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant or donations made in her name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for her arrangements.