Norma Ellen <I>Smith</I> Grisham

Advertisement

Norma Ellen Smith Grisham Veteran

Birth
Everton, Dade County, Missouri, USA
Death
11 May 1979 (aged 76)
Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, USA
Burial
Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, USA Add to Map
Plot
31, 0, 99
Memorial ID
View Source
Obituary:
MRS. NORMA E. GRISHAM

BROOKLINE – Mrs. Norma E. Grisham, 76, Brookline, died early today in Bois D'Arc at the home of Marion Climer, where she had been residing for two weeks while ill.

Mrs. Grisham was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church of Everton. A former Dade County resident, she had lived in Brookline at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Leo Black [Betty Jean], for the past three years.

Survivors include one son, Lonnie, Springfield, one stepson, Doyle Grisham of Pittsburg, Calif.; one other daughter, Mrs. Bonnie Reynolds, Springfield; and 12 grandchildren.

Arrangements will be announced by Meadors of Republic.

Springfield Leader and Press, 11 May 1979, Fri • Page 13, Column 4
*******************************************************************

Norma Ellen Smith was youngest child of James Calvin "Jimmy" Smith and Martha Rowena Grant. They had ten children, but after their first three children were born, the next six of their babies died when they were three days old. The cause of their deaths is unknown, but it could have possible been and RH blood factor problem. Norma Ellen was their last and 10th child. Norma said that her mother told her that on the night before Norma's third day after birth, that her mom held her and cried and prayed to God that her baby girl would live. Martha's prayers were answered and Norma Ellen lived to be 76 years of age!

Norma was over 15 years younger than her only living sister, Mary Olive "Ollie" Smith, and about 21 years younger than her only living brother. Her brother, Walter, was a twin, but his twin, Walton, died when he was just a few months old. Walter, Walton, the six babies, and Mary Olive, and their parents are all buried in Liberty Cemetery in Dade County, Missouri.

Norma Ellen first married Walter Jay Boone on January 11, 1925. Walter Boone died March 23, 1935. There were no children born to this union.

Norma then married Frederick Leonard Grisham, Sr., on July 11, 1935, in Dade County, Missouri. They had two daughters and one son: Betty Jean, Bonnie, and Lonnie James. Fred had two children by a previous marriage. Fred, Jr., and Doyle Grisham.

Norma was a lady with quite a sense of humor. Here are a couple of poems that were published in the newspaper that Norma had written:

CHIGGER SEASON

The morning dew is on the grass,
There's fragrance in the air.
There is also many a chigger
Just hiding here and there.

He's waiting for his breakfast,
He feeds on you and me,
What he was ever made for
Is more than I can see.

I try hard to kill him
I don't have half a chance,
He's already bitten me,
Beneath my Sunday pants.

I rant and rave and roar
And call him "evil enemy".
But for the bumps he leaves behind
There's no human remedy.

And so he calmly eases away
Until he's grown much bigger,
I call him names—that "so–and-so"
That measley little chigger.

By Norma Ellen (Smith) Grisham


SOUND APPROACH

At night whenever I hear a noise,
Do I completely lose my poise?
Do I start up with a wild Indian scream?
Nope! Turning over I resume my dream.
How do I know it's not the mulberry tree
Banging on the roof a limb to free?
How do I know that thieves don't creep
Across the floor to mar my sleep?
How do I know it's not a faucet gurgling?
Cause I "hain't" got one, nor "nothin" worth burglin'!

Written by Norma Ellen Grisham, 1960

Military Information: SMSGT, US AIR FORCE
Obituary:
MRS. NORMA E. GRISHAM

BROOKLINE – Mrs. Norma E. Grisham, 76, Brookline, died early today in Bois D'Arc at the home of Marion Climer, where she had been residing for two weeks while ill.

Mrs. Grisham was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church of Everton. A former Dade County resident, she had lived in Brookline at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Leo Black [Betty Jean], for the past three years.

Survivors include one son, Lonnie, Springfield, one stepson, Doyle Grisham of Pittsburg, Calif.; one other daughter, Mrs. Bonnie Reynolds, Springfield; and 12 grandchildren.

Arrangements will be announced by Meadors of Republic.

Springfield Leader and Press, 11 May 1979, Fri • Page 13, Column 4
*******************************************************************

Norma Ellen Smith was youngest child of James Calvin "Jimmy" Smith and Martha Rowena Grant. They had ten children, but after their first three children were born, the next six of their babies died when they were three days old. The cause of their deaths is unknown, but it could have possible been and RH blood factor problem. Norma Ellen was their last and 10th child. Norma said that her mother told her that on the night before Norma's third day after birth, that her mom held her and cried and prayed to God that her baby girl would live. Martha's prayers were answered and Norma Ellen lived to be 76 years of age!

Norma was over 15 years younger than her only living sister, Mary Olive "Ollie" Smith, and about 21 years younger than her only living brother. Her brother, Walter, was a twin, but his twin, Walton, died when he was just a few months old. Walter, Walton, the six babies, and Mary Olive, and their parents are all buried in Liberty Cemetery in Dade County, Missouri.

Norma Ellen first married Walter Jay Boone on January 11, 1925. Walter Boone died March 23, 1935. There were no children born to this union.

Norma then married Frederick Leonard Grisham, Sr., on July 11, 1935, in Dade County, Missouri. They had two daughters and one son: Betty Jean, Bonnie, and Lonnie James. Fred had two children by a previous marriage. Fred, Jr., and Doyle Grisham.

Norma was a lady with quite a sense of humor. Here are a couple of poems that were published in the newspaper that Norma had written:

CHIGGER SEASON

The morning dew is on the grass,
There's fragrance in the air.
There is also many a chigger
Just hiding here and there.

He's waiting for his breakfast,
He feeds on you and me,
What he was ever made for
Is more than I can see.

I try hard to kill him
I don't have half a chance,
He's already bitten me,
Beneath my Sunday pants.

I rant and rave and roar
And call him "evil enemy".
But for the bumps he leaves behind
There's no human remedy.

And so he calmly eases away
Until he's grown much bigger,
I call him names—that "so–and-so"
That measley little chigger.

By Norma Ellen (Smith) Grisham


SOUND APPROACH

At night whenever I hear a noise,
Do I completely lose my poise?
Do I start up with a wild Indian scream?
Nope! Turning over I resume my dream.
How do I know it's not the mulberry tree
Banging on the roof a limb to free?
How do I know that thieves don't creep
Across the floor to mar my sleep?
How do I know it's not a faucet gurgling?
Cause I "hain't" got one, nor "nothin" worth burglin'!

Written by Norma Ellen Grisham, 1960

Military Information: SMSGT, US AIR FORCE

Inscription

NORMA E
FEB 24 1903
MAY 11 1979
WIFE OF
PVT
FRED GRISHAM
USA
SECTION 31 SITE 99

Gravesite Details

Norma was not in the military



See more Grisham or Smith memorials in:

Flower Delivery