Norma Jeanne Minick

1924 - 2011

Norma Jeanne DeLaria Minick, 86, passed peacefully in her home surrounded by family Friday, June 17, 2011. Celebration of life: A private family celebration will be held at a later date. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, North Central Texas Chapter, 101 Summit Ave., Suite 300, Fort Worth, Texas, 76102, www.alz.org/northcentral.texas. Norma was born Aug. 3, 1924, in Chelsea, Mass., to Dorthea and Giacomo Delaria and was the eldest of 10 children. She spent her formative years in Everett, Mass., and attended Medford High School. At the tender age of 20, Norma graduated from Lawrence Memorial Nursing School and set out to see the world. She became one of the first flight attendants for American Airlines, based in Fort Worth. There she met the love of her life, W.F. "Spot" Minick. After seven years of dedicated service at American Airlines, Norma gave up her life of adventure to become a loving wife to Spot and mother to his son, William F. "Billy" Minick. The two eloped to Hot Springs, Ark., in the company of their best friends, Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Atwood. A couple of years later they welcomed a baby girl who Spot insisted on naming Norma Jean after his beloved wife. Norma loved heading the PTA, leading her daughter's Bluebird Troop and caring for anyone who ever visited her home. She was an amazing mother and an even better grandmother to her five grandchildren. Norma returned to nursing in her late 40s and acted as director of Nurses at Fort Worth Osteopathic for 15 years. Ever the busybody, she continued to nurse off and on into her 80s. She loved gardening, the outdoors, animals, art, history, music and reading. Considering herself a connoisseur of the Great American Parade and John Philip Sousa marches, Norma was known to drive thousands of miles to watch a good parade. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the angels of Vitas Hospice and Gwendolyn "KK" Weathered. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2001 and grandson, Cody Bill Minick, in 2008. Survivors: Children, Billy Minick and wife, Pam, and Norma Jean Minick; daughter of the heart, Dianne Schafer and husband, Eddie Walker; grandchildren, Cheyenne Schafer Minick, Brandy Schafer Minick, Cody's wife, Holly Minick, Concho Bill Minick and wife, Dawn, Lucia Minick Power and Greg Graham; six great-grandchildren; five siblings; and dear friend and caretaker, Sharon Wilson.