Norma Jean Evans

Norma Jean Evans, 84, passed away peacefully at her home in Owensboro on Friday morning, January 19, with family and caregivers by her side.  Born March 8, 1939, in Easton, a small town tucked in the southeastern corner of Hancock County, Norma was one of eleven children of Charles Thomas Richards and Bessie Eva Falls Richards. 

In addition to her parents, Norma was preceded in death by her husband of over 64 years, Cody Evans, as well as sisters Dorothy Louise and Lula Mae, and brothers Edward, Curtis, Glen, and John.

Norma is survived by her son, James Evans, his wife, Hiroko Tamura, and their son Tyler. Also left to cherish Norma’s memory are a brother, Carl Richards; sisters Alice Stamp, Marlene Wheatley, and Ann Wells; and many nieces and nephews

While a relatively young teenager Norma moved from Hancock County to Owensboro to work and provide additional support for her family.  She lived in a small, shared apartment on Third Street and began working as a waitress at the original Gabe’s restaurant downtown on Third and Frederica. Norma later worked at the old cigar factory as a roller.                        

At a dance in Hawesville, she met Cody Evans, to whom she explained she would not date any boy who drank. Two years later they married on November 24, 1955, and began life together in a small home on Glendale Avenue.  A few years after that they moved to Sacramento, Kentucky, where Norma was an active member of the Sacramento Baptist Church and Eastern Star organization. She often recalled the roughly fifteen years spent in McLean County as among the happiest times, particularly due to the strong friendships forged with so many other young couples in Sacramento.

After a 1974 move to a new home in Whitesville, Norma found a second, and quite successful, career in retail. She was a salesclerk for twenty plus years in the women’s clothing department at Bacon’s department store in Town Square Mall.  She also worked, at various times, in sales at other businesses, including Brenner’s Carpets, the Male Trap, and a lamp shop in Lincoln Mall.

Outside of work, Norma enjoyed gardening.  Never one to truly rest, in retirement she began growing and selling day lilies. Norma served on the Owensboro Symphony Board of Directors from 2011 to 2016, and she was more recently a member of Women of Note in support of the Owensboro Symphony Alliance.

Norma has been a member of the Whitesville Baptist Church for almost 50 years, although failing health in recent years has limited her ability to attend and participate as fully as she would have liked.  

Fiercely proud of her family and their accomplishments, Norma was headstrong and opinionated, but always kind and considerate.  With jet black hair and dark eyes, Norma had a look – a stare – that could instill trepidation, if not outright fear, in those on the receiving end.  More often than not, she used that look for constructive purposes.  Walking away from a conversation with Norma, one invariably knew exactly what she thought and where she stood on any issues discussed. She was a lifelong Democrat, a Kentucky Colonel, and a caring and nurturing mother to many more than just the one child in her own home.

The family greatly appreciates and would like to recognize the excellent care provided by the team of medical professionals and caretakers who lovingly assisted Norma during the latter stages of her life: Traci Baldwin, Sitney Chinn, Jill Estes, Ashley Jones, and Kami White.   

Visitation will be Monday, January 22, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.  The funeral service, officiated by Stephen Thren, will be held at Whitesville Baptist Church on Tuesday, January 23, 10:30 a.m. after a brief visitation at the church, starting at 10:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Cates Cemetery in Whitesville. 

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Owensboro Symphony, 211 E. Second St., Owensboro, KY 42303, or to the Cates Cemetery Fund, 10167 Hwy 54, Whitesville, KY 42378. 

Memories and condolences for Norma’s family may be left at www.glenncares.com