Norma Petty

Norma Jean Petty died on Sunday January 15, 2023 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas, at the age of 91.  Norma was born on March 14, 1931, in Sharon Springs, Kansas, to Melvin (Mel) Coleman Hobson and Elva Eliza Nicholson.  Norma attended school in Sharon Springs, Kansas, graduating from Wallace County Community High School in 1949.

On June 6, 1950 she was married to Francis Eugene (Gene) Petty at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Sharon Springs.  To that union 2 sons were born, Jerry Eugene and Melvin Rodney (Rod).

During their first year of marriage Norma and Gene lived in Lavers, Colorado.  Thereafter they lived and worked in Sharon Springs.  Norma worked for the Soil Conversation Service for 32 years, retiring in 1993, shortly after Gene died.  In 2013 a devastating single-car, rollover accident robbed Norma of her independence.  After back surgery she moved to the Assisted Living portion of the High Plains Retirement Village in Lakin, Kansas, to be close to Rod and Vickie in Garden City.  After Rod died in 2019 Norma moved to Stoneybrook Assisted Living in Manhattan, close to Jerry and Jo.

Norma was not well-travelled to distant places, but regardless of where it was at, her and Gene never missed a single school event, ballgame, or track meet, if Jerry or Rod was participating.

Norma Jean was a member of the Holy Ghost Catholic Church.

She is survived by son Jerry and his wife Jo of Saint George, Kansas, and by Vickie Petty, widow of Rod from Garden City, Kansas.   Norma is also survived by granddaughter Amy Joy Glaves and her husband Scott, by grandson Tim Petty, and 2 great grandsons Brigham and Brady Glaves.  Also surviving are nephew Kevin Komp and Natalie; nieces Verla Terry, Linda Johnson (Robert, “Oly”), Karlin Barton, and nephew Leon Schneider and his wife Patti.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gene, son Rod, Sister Melva Jo Hobson Komp and her husband George; and sister-in-law Evea Schneider, her husband Paul, and their son Wayne.