Norma Lucille Hurst

Norma Lucille (Millsap) Hurst, 92, of Chanute, Kansas, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2025, at the Olathe Hospice House in Olathe, Kansas, surrounded by family. She was born to Fred and Rosalie (Gragg) Millsap on November 9, 1933, in Bixby, Oklahoma. A devoted mother and cherished friend, Norma's life was a tapestry woven with deep love for her family and a passion for life’s simple pleasures.

Norma graduated from Bixby High School and went on to create a remarkable life marked by her marriage to John Hurst on May 5, 1951, in Van Buren, Arkansas. Their love and partnership were a testament to the strength of their bond, which remained steadfast until John's passing. Among her greatest joys, Norma found pleasure in reading and in watching sports, enjoying the camaraderie these hobbies brought with them. She especially loved embarking on trips with her sister and family, which fostered precious memories that they would carry in their hearts. Norma worked as a CNA and in the OB Department at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, where she helped deliver many, many babies, including several of her own grandchildren, which brought her immense joy.

She was a proud mother to her children: Toni Umbarger (Dwayne) of Thayer, Kansas; Pat Holtzman (Gary) of Topeka, Kansas; Bob Hurst (Carolyn) of Erie, Kansas; Susan Fogleman (Carl) of Pittsburg, Kansas; Linda Wire (Kent) of Chanute, Kansas; Brenda Vanderford (Bob) of Princeton, Kansas; Cliff Hurst of Chanute, Kansas; and Jon Hurst (Robyn) of Taneyville, Missouri. Norma's legacy is further enriched by her seventeen grandchildren, forty-eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, each of whom brought immense joy to her life.

Norma was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Hurst, and her parents, Fred Millsap and Rosalie (Gragg) Millsap. She also mourned the loss of her brothers: Fred Millsap, Gene Millsap, and Bill Millsap, along with her brother Marshall Lee and sister Norsa Smith. Though they are no longer with us, their memories live on through Norma's enduring spirit and the family bonds she so lovingly nurtured.

As we celebrate the life of Norma Lucille Hurst, we remember a woman who truly embodied grace, resilience, and love. Her memory will be cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Memorials are suggested to the Cherry Street Youth Center or St. Jude’s's Children’s Hospital and can be left with or mailed to Wickham Family Funeral Home, 500 North Forest Ave. Chanute, Kansas. 66720. 

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Ambassador Christian Church, 4001 S. Johnson Rd, Chanute, Kansas, 66720, at 10:00 a.m., followed by burial at Thayer Cemetery, Thayer, Kansas.