Norma Katie Sockriter

Norma Katie Sockriter of Fruitland, Maryland was born July 1st, 1939, and she passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026.

She was married on July 1st, 1956, and a year later had a son on July 6th, 1957, Franklin James Sockriter, Jr. Her husband, Franklin James Sockriter, Sr. died Christmas day at 8:00 pm, 2009. In her early years, Norma attended Prince Street Elementary and Wicomico Junior and Senior High Schools. She walked with her girlfriend to school every day in all types of weather. Her father was a mechanic and worked for Oliphant Chevrolet while her mother manufactured shirts at the local shirt factory in downtown Salisbury.

Later, Norma met her husband outside the Boulevard Movie Theater where her future husband worked. He had seen her downtown with girlfriends and wanted to meet her, so he gave her and her friends free movie tickets so he could talk with her and get to know her! They got married, had their son Frank Jr., and struggled to make a living. Norma took care of chickens and her husband worked construction. Eventually they bought their first house, a little cape cod with a basement in Parsonsburg, Md. Later, they built a breeder chicken house with laying chickens. Norma took care of the chickens, picking up 6,000 eggs a day. At this time, they started a construction business. Her husband was one of the first to use a bobcat skid steer to clean out chicken houses. He also did landscaping, built driveways, and did custom work. They built their business up to where they had 3 bobcat skid steer loaders, one of which was the largest that Melroe made, 2 dump trucks, and eventually 2 tractor trailers.

In the 1960’s, Norma worked in retail, working part time through the 1980’s while maintaining their construction business, keeping books, etc. and trying to make ends meet. She worked over the years for Reed’s Drug Store, Ames, and finally Super Fresh, until her retirement once her husband died. Her son sold his house and moved in with her and helped her maintain her home, completing many improvements. She was able to survive heart surgery 9 years ago and a pacemaker implanted in the summer of 2025.

She loved to drive and did so daily. She told her son that she was 87 years old and driving made her feel alive. Unfortunately, she had an accident where her left leg was broken. She was air lifted to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Unit where she spent 2 ½ weeks! They were able to stabilize her wounds, and she was transferred to Anchorage Rehabilitation Nursing Facility. She was doing good and anticipating her wound to get a skin graft and return home where she deeply wanted to be. She was sent to Tidal Health Hospital to remove infection. When returning to Anchorage Nursing Facility after a week, she never regained her strength. She loved life and people and truly did not want to die.

Her son was with her when she passed on with no struggle. She asked the night before, “Am I gonna’ die?” The next morning, at about 7:00 am, she just stopped breathing; she had a single tear fall down her cheek! And she was gone!

Norma leaves behind her son, Franklin J. Sockriter, Jr., two beloved grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren who cherished their time with her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin J. Sockriter, Sr. and her brother Richard Hastings.

A graveside service will take place at Springhill Memory Gardens in Hebron on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Family and friends are invited to come and celebrate Norma’s life and the cherished memories shared together.

Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home in Delmar.