Norma Rector, daughter of the late Elbert Franklin and Ruth Marie (Lape) Burk, was born November 28, 1933, in Winona, Missouri, and passed away September 9, 2022, at her home in Mountain Grove, Missouri, at 88 years of age.
Norma’s parents were home missionaries and planted churches in several locations; therefore, she had the privilege of growing up in Missouri, California, Nevada, and Arizona and made Jesus the Lord of her life as a teenager. She married Donald E. Rector on September 5, 1953, and they were blessed with three children: Martin, Richard, and Sally Ann. Before Norma had her children, she worked at Sears and taught people to knit, crochet, and sew. She also worked at a drapery factory, and quickly became the person in charge. She took her position seriously and made sure that everything was done to perfection. After Norma had her children, she became a stay-at-home mom. She was a diligent homemaker and made life in her home so fun that her children were afraid to leave, thinking that they might miss some of the fun. Norma loved her family very much. They meant the world to her.
Norma was a very creative and ingenuitive person. She began sewing and created her own clothes at a very young age and continued this throughout her life. In addition to knitting, crocheting, and tatting, she also began painting pictures later on in life.
Norma led her life as a perfect Christian example to all who knew her. She studied the Bible daily and followed God’s word in all that she did. She also raised her children to do the same. She was very active in her church by singing in the choir and working alongside her husband in teaching Sunday school. She was willing to help in any way she could. Young people seemed to be drawn to her and she used this to win them to Christ.
Besides her parents, Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, and one son, Martin.
She is survived by one son, Richard Rector of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and one daughter, Sally Ann Rector of Fresno, California, two sisters, Donna Hess of Fair Oaks, California, and Wilma “Marie” Quimby of Sheridan, Oregon, and other relatives and friends who will dearly miss her.
