Submitted by

Karen Stewart

Norma Sheets Lewis
Norma Sheets departed to be face-to-face with the Lord on Sunday, July 20, 2008, at her home in Ponca City.
A service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church to celebrate her victory over death. Arrangements are under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home and Crematory.
Norma was born Sept. 25, 1918 in Blythedale, Harrison County, Mo. She was the sixth child of Samuel Moses Sheets and Ella Bess VanHoozer Sheets' eight children. She always said she was glad her parents didn't use birth control or she wouldn't have been born. She learned and lived her life by the principles her parents taught her of integrity, honor, honesty, respect, humility and hospitality.
Her first miracle occurred when she survived gangrene from a ruptured appendix just before her ninth birthday. The doctors said "If she lives four days, she will be in the hospital four weeks." God definitely had a plan for her life.
On Oct. 11, 1939 she married Kellous Warren Elmore and four years later they had one daughter Jeanette Sue Elmore. Norma worked at Mid America Manufacturing in Ponca City, sewing knapsacks for the soldiers during World War II and then as a cashier at Suttles' Meat Market and Safeway grocery to support herself and her daughter.
On Aug. 18, 1947, she married Robert "Bob" Lewis in Ponca City after a friend and a fellow co-worker introduced Norma to his uncle. The next June, Continental Oil Company transferred Bob to Lake Charles, La., where they spent the next 22 1/2 years enjoying the area, their life and many friends. Norma was happy when Bob wanted to adopt her daughter and raise Jeanette as his own child. In January 1970 they returned to Bob's home place, five acres of the original 1893 homestead in Ponca City where they both lived the remainder of their lives.
Norma enjoyed learning and excelling in the hobbies and interests she shared with her husband over the many years of their marriage and even after he preceded her to heaven. She loved to play bridge and was considered by many as an outstanding player. She also loved bowling and received many trophies over the years. Norma and Bob enjoyed traveling and visited all of the 48 continental states during their marriage.
Norma was a loving, devoted, generous and caring wife and mother. She loved to sew and enjoyed making most of Jeanette's clothes while she was growing up. Norma provided a loving, affectionate, gracious home and lifestyle for her husband and daughter. They always felt at peace, safe and secure with her. She always put them first without thinking of herself as sacrificing. Norma loved her family and wanted to make them happy. She was always there for her husband and her daughter. As her daughter said, "Norma was always there to see her leave in the morning and always at home to greet her when she returned home in the afternoon." Jeanette or Bob never came home to an empty house. Norma was always there for them. She was the heart and soul of the home. She gave her all to her loved ones and friends. She will missed but not forgotten. Norma leaves a hole in the heart of so many.
She was a realist. She played the cards that were dealt to her and never complained or had a negative attitude. She was one of the original "it is what it is" people before it was popular. She always claimed the promise "God never gives you more than you can bear" and God honored that promise. Her life is a testimony to that promise.
Norma was known for her great pies. Many times she was told she could sell her pies but, of course, that was not her way. She loved to give them from the heart. It was one of her many ways of sharing her love. She always saw and enjoyed the best in people. Norma loved to make people happy. Her home and heart were always open.
She was active in St. Paul's United Methodist Church for almost 40 years. She was part of the chapel Sunday school class, called about the flowers for the church and inform ladies of the UMW meeting, would fold the Epistle for mailing to the members and often sold the most tickets for the salad luncheons.
Norma always made people feel welcome. She had a loving heart, caring manner and gentle way. She cared about people and would do anything for them. Norma was one of those people with heart — she would give her all to whatever she did. Norma went out of her way to be fair and integrity was her backbone. She definitely went the extra mile to make sure people were treated fairly whether or not they did the same. She lived as her parents taught her — even if someone else acts without integrity, does not mean you should do the same.
Her parents, five brothers (Andy, Hugh, Harry, Henry, Bob) and one sister (Margaret), husband, ex-husband and one stepson, Bobby Gerald, preceded her in death. She has joined her family and many friends with whom she is now reunited in heaven for eternity.
She is survived by her daughter, Jeanette Sue Lewis of the home; one sister, Nora Sheets and one sister-in-law, Dorothy Sheets, both of Eagleville, Mo.; one stepdaughter-in-law, Beverly Lewis of Palmdale, Calif., and children; two stepdaughters, Mary Sue Crotzer and Marilyn Brown of Lancaster, Calif., and children; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Norma's body will reside beside her husband Bob's at Longwood Cemetery while her soul and spirit are in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Casket bearers will be Leon Lewis, Ernie Lewis, John Lewis, Ronald Lewis, Joe Bob Campbell and Paul Mohr.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 N. Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, OK 74601