Norma Katherine Smith

Norma Smith passed away Thursday, January 16, 2025 in hospice care at home with her husband and two children after a twenty plus year battle with lymphatic cancer. Graveside services will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 27th at Rosemound Cemetery with Pastor Roy Marshall officiating.

Norma loved being around her family and her many long-time friends. She and Wayne were married for over 63 years, starting out in Waco, both graduating from Baylor University, then moving for two short stints in Dallas and El Paso, before returning to Waco and settling into their home in Hewitt fifty-one years ago. They raised Mark and Kathy in Hewitt, and “Mom” took them to every lesson imaginable – swimming, piano, tennis, etc. She enjoyed gardening, collecting all sorts of objects (especially cardinal birds), decorating for every holiday, reading, and watching soap operas. Like her mother, Louise, Norma loved to play games, and she made sure everyone abided by the rules to a tee! Wayne and his “Babe” enjoyed going out to eat together and with friends. Norma took great pride in her children’s activities and accomplishments from Kathy’s Little League World Series softball teams to Mark’s global travels. 

Norma took pleasure in being around her many friends over the years, including: Waco High School Class of 1960 graduates, Beta Sigma Phi sorority sisters, Red Hats members, Waco Historic Foundation’s Earle-Napier-Kinnard House volunteers, Woodway Methodist Church members, and retired teachers. Norma began teaching at Kendrick Elementary in Waco ISD. She worked for Midway ISD for over two decades in the Hewitt, Spring Valley and Speegleville elementary campuses, retiring from Midway in 2004. She was a proud member of the Waco Retired Teachers Association. Norma was a spiritual person raised in Highland Baptist Church, raising her kids with Wayne at Hewitt Methodist, and spending her last season with Wayne at Woodway Methodist. She is now resting with family and friends in Heaven – and overseeing a strait-laced poker game we are sure! 

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Louise and Barney Cissell; her loving brother, Bob Cissell; and her close aunt, Mary Lee Rutherford. 

Norma is survived by her husband, friend and caregiver, Wayne Lee Smith; her daughter, Katherine Ann Smith; and her son, Mark Wayne Smith and his wife Angela. She is also survived by her brother, Bob’s loving wife, Janet Forte; her niece, Peggy Smith Youtz Cheverere and her husband, children and grandchildren; her nephew, Whitt Langford Smith and his wife Jerrie and children; and by several cousins and extended family. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Waco Historic Foundation in memory of Norma Smith. 

The family would like to thank Bluebonnet Hospice and Visiting Angels for their loving care during Norma’s last months. We love and miss you Mom! May you rest in Peace!