Norma Mary (LaFort) Wilkinson

Norma Mary Wilkinson, 84, of Overland Park, Kansas, and former resident of Poplar Bluff and St. Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Norma was born in Watertown, Massachusetts on January 9, 1938. Her family later moved to Waltham, Massachusetts, where she graduated from high school. After graduation she worked as a secretary for an insurance agent. During this time Norma met Frank Wilkinson, a native of Greenville, Missouri, when he was stationed in Massachusetts in the Army. They were married on August 17, 1958, and moved to Poplar Bluff.  After having a family and while her children were in elementary school Norma worked as a school secretary at New Mark Twain Elementary School. She went on to work other administrative jobs, finally retiring from Family Services. Frank and Norma attended the First United Methodist church for many years until they moved to St. Louis. Norma was also a member of the Red Hat Society in Poplar Bluff. She was very sociable and made friends easily. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

After moving to St. Louis, she stayed active on Facebook so she could stay in touch with family and friends. Because her parents came from large families, she had many relatives back East as well as all her friends in Poplar Bluff. She moved to Overland Park, Kansas in November of 2020, where she continued to stay active in her new community and made new friends. 

She is survived by her daughters, Dr. Dianne Senay and her husband Doug of Overland Park, KS and Sheryl Nickless and her husband Greg Glidden of St. George, UT; and two granddaughters, Anna Nickless and her husband Aaron Nettgen and Elyse Nickless.

A private graveside service will be held on their 65thh wedding anniversary Thursday, August 17, 2023, at Pleasant Valley Cemetery near Greenville, Missouri. 

Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Norma Mary Wilkinson.

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