Norma Lee Wyatt

Norma Lee Bassett Wyatt passed away peacefully on June 21, 2023, in Seminole, FL. at the age of 97. Born March 1, 1926, Norma was the eldest daughter of Orville Lee and Gracie Sybil Bassett. She was raised in Greenwood, Arkansas on the family farm amongst many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

At the age of eighteen, Norma entered the U.S. Navy Cadet Nurse Corps Program, beginning her nurses training at Harris Hospital with academic work at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. Upon graduation from nurse's training in 1946, she served a brief time in the American Red Cross while waiting for a billet in the regular Navy. During her Red Cross service, she served on a temporary duty deployment to assist with the Texas City Disaster. After introductory training in the Navy Officer's Course, where she failed to learn to swim but excelled at Navy life, she was stationed at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California, serving as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. In 1948, she met her future husband, Norman R. Wyatt, who was a Navy corpsman also serving at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital. They married in April 1950, and upon receiving honorable discharges from the Navy, relocated to Texas, Norman's home state.

In Texas, they initially settled in Norman's hometown of Beaumont followed by a brief time in Dallas before settling in Hurst in 1955, where they raised their four children. While in Hurst, they established lifelong friendships and many wonderful memories. Norma continued with her profession as a registered nurse, fulfilling leadership roles in Emergency Room and Obstetric departments of various hospitals. In later years, she continued her nursing career by working in the Home Health Care Industry serving as a traveling nurse and agency leader.

In 1977, Norma and Norman relocated to Brandon, MS. In 1981 they returned to Texas living in Huntsville, Noonday, and finally the Hawkins area. Norma and Norman enjoyed their retirement years hosting many family gatherings and summer camps for their grandchildren. In 2014, after 64 years of marriage, Norman passed away. In 2017 Norma initially moved to Dallas, then relocated to Seminole, FL to live with her oldest daughter Melissa and her husband Peter.

A faithful member of the United Methodist Church her entire life, Norma found tremendous comfort and inspiration in her faith. She lived a long, full life always with family close to her. She was lovingly direct and supportive of her children and in-laws, and she found tremendous joy in her pets including numerous dogs, cats, donkeys, and horses, a trait she nurtured in her children and grandchildren. Exceptionally thoughtful and considerate, Norma led her life by example, placing others' needs before her own. She made a strong and permanent impact on her family.

Norma is survived by her four children, Mark E. Wyatt and daughter-in-law Nancy Wyatt, daughter, Melissa LaPointe and husband, Peter, son Gregory L. Wyatt and wife, LeAnne, daughter Elizabeth Gordon and husband Scott. She had seven grandchildren, Leah Mello and her husband Caleb, Meagan Sweigart and her husband Greg, Lara Beth Pezzuti and her husband Marcus, Sally Weiss and her husband Robert, Taylor Gordon, Pierce Gordon, and Molly Gordon. She had seven great grandchildren, Gabriel Mello, Scarlett Mello, Oliver Weiss, Isabelle Sweigart, Wyatt Weiss, Miriam Mello, and Miles Weiss. She is also survived by her younger sister Patty Lett along with many nieces and nephews.

A family graveside service will be held at Liberty Cemetery in Greenwood, Arkansas later this year.

If desired, memorials may be made in her honor to a charity or institution of one's choice.