Norma Jean Worley
Norma Jean Worley, 89, Emporia, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at Holiday Resort.
Norma was born on her parent’s farm to Paul and Lois (Hylton) Johnson on August 21, 1934. She grew up on her father’s farm, helping out, and riding her horse Jerry to the Big John Schoolhouse. She moved to Emporia, Kansas, where she worked as a waitress.
She married Joe Rex Worley on May 4, 1957. Norma was a housewife for several years, but her young family moved back to her father’s farm, and Joe remodeled her Grandpa Maurice Johnson’s house on her father’s farm, where the young family grew up in next to their grandparents.
Norma became a community 4-H leader in the Neosho Valley Club for many years, and helped young 4-H’ers in the community. Norma went to work at The Hays House restaurant as a waitress when her children started high school. She worked there until 1989 when her husband became ill. Joe died on September 3, 1989. Norma continued to help in the community, serving in Kiwanis and also the Senior Center. Norma loved to shop, and loved visiting with her grandchildren. She also dearly loved her dachshund, Prince.
Surviving family members include daughters, Rhonda (Michael) Harbeson, Iola, TX; Lorraine Hackler, Council Grove, KS; Patricia (Michael) Alingh, Emporia, KS; Esther (Tom) Archer, Cottonwood Falls, KS; grandchildren Stephanie (J.D) De Leon, Georgetown, TX; Ashley (Jaron) Schneider, College Station, TX; Shawn (Jennifer) Worley, Wellington, KS; Jessica Symmonds, Emporia, KS; Alison Alingh, Emporia, KS; Ashlyn Alingh, Emporia, KS; Amanda (Dustin) Benteman, Emporia, KS; Daniel (Kelli) Archer, El Dorado, KS; and great grandchildren James and Jonathan De Leon; Hunter, Kara and Gannon Worley; Hunter and Madelynn Symmonds; Parker and Brooklyn Benteman; Aspen Archer-Gonzales.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Alberta Johnson, and brother Maurice Johnson.
Cremation is planned. A memorial service will be held at Roberts- Blue-Barnett Funeral Home Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Norma’s ashes will be interred privately in the Greenwood Cemetery in Council Grove, Kansas, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request memorial contributions be made to either Hand in Hand Hospice, or Dolly Parton Imagination Library, sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas, 66801.