Service for Norma Jean Collins was 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at MMS-Payne Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed at Ward's Grove Cemetery. Norma passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2017. She was 81 years old.
Born June 10, 1935, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Carmel and Lottie (Davidson) Avery, Norma attended school in Tulsa, graduating from Central High. She began working at various jobs, and later began a career with Humpty-Dumpty Grocery Store. In 1967, she moved to Claremore and helped open the new location in the Ne-Mar Center. Norma retired in 1985, with the closing of the store. On April 2, 1968, she married Donald Ray Collins and together they made their home in the Foyil area.
Norma enjoyed making quilts, and she shared them with many of her family. She loved children, and often took care of different kids around the area. Norma also spent time shopping for that bargain at the local thrift stores, and going to the casino. Country music was her choice to listen to, and she would clean house on Saturday morning with Hank Williams, Sr., George Jones, and Loretta Lynn playing on the record player.
Those family members that survived include her husband Don of their home in Foyil; her children Gerald Prideaux and wife Sammy, Vicki Ellis and husband Joe all of Foyil, Debbie Rodriguez and husband Fernando of Tulsa, Carol Rumsey and husband Dwight, Randy Prideaux and wife Molly, and Julie Prideaux, all of Foyil; her grandchildren, Mike West and wife Kitty, Jenny Bland and husband Adam, Stacy Hodges and husband Mike, Greg Ellis and wife Krista, Fernando Rodriguez, Jr., Maria Rodriguez, Xochitl Rodriguez, Sarah Moss and husband Donny, Shelly Suggs and husband Hughie, Jessica Vasicek, and Randall Hurst; 26 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; brother Ben Avery and wife Kay of Haskell, and sister Mona Shufeldt and husband Will of Locust Grove. Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her son Richard Prideaux, and brother Coy Avery.
View and sign Norma's online tribute at
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