Norma Lenon

ORAN, Mo. -- Norma J. Lenon, 88, of Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, at Oak Tree Villa Nursing Center.

She was born Sept. 29, 1926, in Oran, to James and Cathleen Driskill Baty.

Norma was a graduate of Oran High School, and Jewish Hospital School of Nursing in 1947. She was a student nurse under the Cadet Nurses Corps during World War II, and after graduation would have been inducted into the Army if the war had not ended.

She was married in 1949 to Walter L. Lenon Jr. in Oran. Three children were born to this marriage: James Steven, William Michael and Suzanne Elaine.

Norma was a practicing registered nurse 50 years before retiring in 1995. She was an office nurse, a hospital nursing supervisor and an operating room nurse before moving to Jefferson City in 1957. She was an obstetrics nurse 15 years, working at both St. Mary's and Memorial Community hospitals. She also worked in Cole and Callaway counties as a maternal child health support nurse for the Department of Health. Her last 23 years were spent as a psychiatric nurse at Fulton State Hospital.

Besides being a wife, mother and nurse, she was a Boy Scout den mother, co-chairwoman of the Cole County Heart Association in the 1970s and was very involved in the Missouri Nurses Association. She was named the Most Involved Nurse for the 7th District of MONA in 1970. Since retirement in 1995, she volunteered at Memorial Community Hospital and Capital Region Medical Center.

She was the first president when the two hospital auxiliaries merged into what now is the CRMC Partners. She is a life member of CRMC Medical Foundation Board of Governors and has been active in Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries for the last several years. She was awarded the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxilian of the year in 2013.

Survivors include a son, Steven (Gloria) Lenon of Chuckey, Tennessee; a daughter, Suzanne Pierce of Kansas City, Missouri; six grandchildren, Caitlin Davis, Joshua (Amy) Lenon, Hannah Lenon, Jed Lenon, Jeffrey (Julie) Pierce and Amanda (Ryan) Fraser; three great-granddaughters, Taylor Barnes, Paige Pierce and Abigail Pierce; two great-grandsons, Frederick Pierce and Daniel Pierce; nieces, Barbara Jacobs, Karen Zietzmann, Kay Burlison, Jerri Berry, Sandra Parrish and Diane Holden; a sister-in-law, Margaret Roberts; and a cousin, John (Patty) Bradley.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; a son, Michael; a son-in-law, Ernest Pierce; a half sister, Alfreda Elkins; nephews, Louis and Bill Elkins; and a niece, Joyce O'Meara.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Jan. 10 at Freeman Mortuary in Jefferson City.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 10 at Freeman Chapel, with the Rev. Tamara Kanatzar officiating. Graveside service and interment will be in Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Capital Region Medical Center Partners Scholarship Fund or the charity of choice.

freemanmortuary.com