IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Norma Jean
Downer
August 17, 1935 – December 24, 2016
Obituary
Norma Jean (Fisher) Downer, age 81 of Baytown, Texas, went to be with the Lord on December 24, 2016 at Cedar Bayou Health and Rehabilitation. A visitation for family and friends will be held at the Fair Play Baptist Church in Fair Play, Missouri on Friday December 30 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a funeral at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Akard Cemetery, Fair Play, Missouri. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions in her name to the Pregnancy Resource Center, Baytown, Texas or to Fair Play Baptist Church, 500 N. Walnut, Fair Play, Missouri 65649.
Norma was born on August 17, 1935 in Fair Play, Missouri to Everett Clay and Cordie Ella Fisher. Norma and her brother, Gerald, grew up in Fair Play surrounded by a large, close knit, extended family. Norma and her parents moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1951 where she met and married Richard 'Dick' Gunsallus in May of 1955. Of this union one daughter, Wauthena Gunsallus Neely was born.
In 1963 Norma was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following surgery she suffered a massive stroke and traumatic brain injury from the surgery itself. In the years that followed, Norma did quite well and eventually walked without assistance. She was a member of Spring Valley Baptist Church in Raytown, Missouri where she sang in the choir for a number of years.
Norma was divorced in 1968 and remarried in 1981 to Lawrence Downer, who passed away in 1993. She moved to Baytown, Texas in 2011 with her daughter and son-in-law. She moved to Cedar Bayou Health and Rehabilitation where she became a much beloved resident. She never knew a stranger and entertained residents and staff with her singing and penchant for 'tall tales'. Norma won the title of 'Queen of Cedar Bayou' and in 2014 went on to participate in Precinct 2 Nursing Home Pageant and won 1st runner up.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Gerald, and husband, Lawrence Downer. She is survived by her daughter, Wauthena Neely and husband, Kurt; 3 grandsons, Matthew Neely and wife, Laurie, Clay Neely, and Shawn Neely and wife, Tara; 9 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Clara Fisher, and niece, Dawn Wiseman and husband, Bill.
Norma was born on August 17, 1935 in Fair Play, Missouri to Everett Clay and Cordie Ella Fisher. Norma and her brother, Gerald, grew up in Fair Play surrounded by a large, close knit, extended family. Norma and her parents moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1951 where she met and married Richard 'Dick' Gunsallus in May of 1955. Of this union one daughter, Wauthena Gunsallus Neely was born.
In 1963 Norma was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following surgery she suffered a massive stroke and traumatic brain injury from the surgery itself. In the years that followed, Norma did quite well and eventually walked without assistance. She was a member of Spring Valley Baptist Church in Raytown, Missouri where she sang in the choir for a number of years.
Norma was divorced in 1968 and remarried in 1981 to Lawrence Downer, who passed away in 1993. She moved to Baytown, Texas in 2011 with her daughter and son-in-law. She moved to Cedar Bayou Health and Rehabilitation where she became a much beloved resident. She never knew a stranger and entertained residents and staff with her singing and penchant for 'tall tales'. Norma won the title of 'Queen of Cedar Bayou' and in 2014 went on to participate in Precinct 2 Nursing Home Pageant and won 1st runner up.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Gerald, and husband, Lawrence Downer. She is survived by her daughter, Wauthena Neely and husband, Kurt; 3 grandsons, Matthew Neely and wife, Laurie, Clay Neely, and Shawn Neely and wife, Tara; 9 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Clara Fisher, and niece, Dawn Wiseman and husband, Bill.
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