Norma J. Gooch

Norma Jean Gooch was born February 15, 1944 to Gus and Ella Stark in Newton, Kansas. On July 19, 1986, John Gooch and Norma Dover were united in marriage in Wichita, Kansas. Together they celebrated 35 years of marriage until John's passing in 2021. She is preceded in death by her parents; loving husband; brothers, Arnold Stark and Lewis Stark; and sister, Ruby Laura Long. She is survived by four Stepchildren, Troy, Damon, Dustin and Stephen Gooch; three adopted children: Thomas Joseph Dover, Lynda Price, and Roni Dover; sister, Ruth Goecks; and her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Norma graduated from Newton High School, in 1962, graduated from Bethany Nazarene College in 1966, and obtained her Master's Degree from Emporia State Teacher's College in 1969. She pursued a life long career in special education: first serving as a special education teacher in Wichita, KS, then as a School Psychologist: 1 year in Wellington, 3 years in Valley Falls, 10 years in Sedgwick County Cooperative. 10 in Wichita, 10 in Mulvane and for the last 15 years she has been with Cowley County Special Services, first in Winfield and for the last 4 years in Arkansas City.
Norma's greatest passion in life has been in communicating with Jesus through prayer and Bible reading on a daily basis. She accepted Jesus as her personal Savior at the age of 9. She was delighted upon receiving her very own Bible at her 3"' grade church promotion. Also at the age of 9 she won a bicycle for influencing the most kids to come to a community evangelistic rally. In High School she participated in Youth For Christ Bible Clubs and Quiz Teams.
Through the years, pass time interests has been going on vacations with family, working out in the yard, and assisting her husband with rental properties.
A Memorial Service in celebration of Norma's life will take place on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 2:00pm at Wellington Freewill Baptist Church, located at 802 East 16th Street, Wellington, Kansas, 67152.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wellington Freewill Baptist Church. Donations may be mailed or left with the funeral home.
We encourage you to share your memories, anecdotes, and photographs of Norma on her memorial page. Your stories and pictures will serve as a lasting tribute to Norma's incredible spirit and enduring legacy. Visit www.cornejofuneralhome.com to share a memory, leave condolences, or sign her digital tribute wall. Arrangements are by Cornejo Funeral Home + Crematory, Wellington, Kansas.