Norma Jean Blauer Paxson February 24, 1937 – February 8, 2012
On February 24, 1937, Violet Allen Blauer and Clarence Eldon Blauer welcomed to this world a 10-pound baby girl they named Norma Jean Blauer. They lived at Tingley, Iowa in Ringgold county.
Norma lived on a farm south of Tingley with her parents. In 1938 Shirley Mae Blauer was born and now Norma had a little sister. Her family moved to a farm in Diagonal, Iowa and Norma and Shirley attended Star Center School.
It was while they lived at Diagonal that her mother died after suffering from several strokes. Violet Blauer was 49 years old when she died. Norma was 14 years old and Shirley was 13. Violet Leota Blauer was laid to rest in the Tingley cemetery.
After her death Violet Blauer’s husband, Clarence, and her children moved back to Tingley. Norma finished the eighth grade in the Tingley school and attended high school in Tingley.
It was at the Banner’s music festivities that Norma Jean Blauer met David Leon Paxson. They always had a lot of fun whenever they were all together. One day driving home from a date somewhere, John Paxson, Dave’s brother, was driving and Dave and Norma were in the truck with him. As they crossed the railroad tracks, Dave took a box out of his pocket, opened it and put an engagement ring on Norma’s finger. He never did ask her to marry him; he just put the ring on her finger. He told her not to take off that ring and to wear it to school. They were married on April 16, 1955 by the justice of the peace at the Grant City courthouse at 4:45 p.m.
Dave and Norma were married until they were separated in death on May 28, 2003. During their marriage they had three sons and a daughter. Every year they would take a trip with their children. They would camp in Colorado. They started camping in a tent but eventually bought a fold-up camper. They pulled that camper for many miles across the western part of the United States.
Norma provided in-home day care to many children for 27 years while living in Des Moines. Norma retired in 1993 after the big flood in Des Moines. Dave and Norma soon moved to Kellerton, Iowa. Dave went to heaven on May 28, 2003. Norma lived in the apartment for seven months after he died. January 2004 Norma moved in with her son, Eldon, and his family. As she improved, she eventually moved back into an apartment in Tingley. Norma eventually went to live at Clearview Nursing Home. She needed more help than she could get in the assisted living part of the home. Norma passed away at Clearview Home on February 8, 2012.
Norma is survived by her children, Eldon Paxson and wife Lorna, Wayne Paxson and wife Laurie, Kenny Paxson and wife Wanda and Lila Cross and husband Gary; her sister, Shirley Martin and husband Howard; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Blauer; her mother, Violet Blauer; her father, Clarence Blauer, and her husband of 48 years, David Leon Paxson.
A memorial fund has been established to Clearview Home in Mount Ayr.
Services were conducted at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa on Saturday, February 11, 2012, with Rev. Terry Roberts officiating. Musicians included Debbie Cannon and Rev. Terry Roberts.
Casket bearers included Todd Paxson, John Paxson, Luke Paxson, Casey Paxson, Kenney Joe Paxson, Mike Paxson, Dan Paxson and Josh Cross.
Honorary pallbearers were Erik Masoner, Kole Paxson, Seth Paxson, Breydon Paxson, Eldon C. Paxson, Nate Paxson, Ian Paxson and Eli Paxson.
Norma was laid at rest in the Maple Row Cemetery in Kellerton.
