Norma Jean (Cook) Wiley

Norma Jean Wiley passed away early Friday morning, April 1, 2022 in Decatur. Norma was born June 4, 1926 in Decatur to Thurman and Bernice Cook. She was raised on a hard scrabble subsistence farm north of Decatur with her sisters Martha, Bonnie, and Joyce and brother Leonard. Childhood days were filled with farm chores. On special occasions the family jug band was formed up to provide entertainment. Long after those hard times the Cook girls easily broke out into the Charleston to the delight of nieces and nephews.

Norma moved to Dallas for a brief time after graduating high school in Decatur, but spent most of her life in Decatur raising a family. Norma worked many years for the city of Decatur. She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Decatur and was a faithful servant to her church family.

Norma married Clint Wiley in 1949 and shared sixty-one years side-by-side until his death in 2010. Left behind to cherish her memory are son Bart Wiley of Decatur, daughter Cheryl Lindsey and husband Gary of Dallas, son Mark Wiley and wife Cathy of Aledo, seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, her beloved sisters Bonnie Rawlings of Decatur and Joyce McNeill of Richmond, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and many lifelong Decatur friends.

Norma cherished her family and demonstrated that love daily. Her grands and greats called her Gumma. Early on she insisted that her grandchildren call her Grandmother, but Gumma won out. Gumma doted on her grands and greats and was happiest holding a baby. Holidays and trips with the family gave her much pleasure. She was always ready for a family trip to the coast or to the mountains. Norma loved deeply and gave freely. She was an avid bridge player and delighted in hosting and attending bridge club with lifelong friends. She and Clint always looked forward to their twice-yearly South Padre Island trips with friends. Each trip took six months preparation. The trip down included transport for a small household freezer full of those preparations and hopes for a return freezer full of frozen fish filets.

Honorary pallbearers are Bonnie Rawlings, Joyce McNeill, Betty Wiley, Joy Bastian, Thelma Renshaw, Virginia Renfro, Jeannine Eaton, Maryenella Armes, Lanny Maeyers, and Ann Williams.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 11, 2022 at Oaklawn Cemetery (465 Cemetery Rd, Decatur, TX 76234). Please join the family after the service for a reception at Oak Grove UMC (1295 Old Greenwood Rd, Decatur, TX 76234). The family would be delighted if lifelong friends, unable to attend the service, consider attending the reception to celebrate Norma’s life.

Family requests memorials be made to Wise Area Relief Mission (300 North Trinity, Decatur, Texas 76234), Decatur First United Methodist Church (104 South Miller, Decatur, Texas 76234), or Oak Grove United Methodist Church (1295 Old Greenwood Rd, Decatur, TX 76234).