Norma J. Lenon

Norma J. Lenon, age 88 years, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away on Monday, December 22, 2014, at the Oak Tree Villa Nursing Center. She was born on September 29, 1926, in Oran, Mo., to James and Cathleen Driskill Baty, both deceased. She was a graduate of Oran High School and a graduate of The Jewish Hospital School of Nursing in 1947. She was a student nurse under the Cadet Nurses Corp during World War II and after graduation would have been inducted into the Army if the war had not ended. She was married in 1949 to Walter L. Lenon Jr. in Oran, Mo. Three children were born to this marriage, James Steven, William Michael and Suzanne Elaine. She was a practicing registered nurse for 50 years before retiring in 1995. She practiced as an office nurse, a hospital Nursing Supervisor and an operating room nurse before moving to Jefferson City in 1957. She was an obstetrics nurse for 15 years, working at both St. Mary's and Memorial Community Hospital. She also worked in Cole and Callaway counties as a Maternal Child Health Support Nurse for the Department of Health. Her last 23 years were spent as a Psychiatric Nurse at Fulton State Hospital. Besides being a wife, mother and nurse, she was a Boy Scout Den Mother; Co-chairman of the Cole County Heart Association in the 70's and was very involved in the Missouri Nurse's Association. She was named the Most Involved Nurse for the 7th District of MONA in 1970. Since retirement in 1995, she volunteered at Memorial Community Hospital and Capital Region Medical Center. She was the first President when the two hospital auxiliaries were merged into what is now the CRMC Partners. She was a life member of the CRMC Medical Foundation Board of Governors, and had been active in the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries for the last several years. In 2013, she was awarded the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxilian of the year. Survivors include: one son, Steven (Gloria) Lenon of Chuckey, Tenn.; one daughter, Suzanne Pierce of Kansas City, Mo.; six grandchildren, Caitlin Davis, Joshua (Amy) Lenon, Hannah Lenon, Jed Lenon, Jeffrey (Julie) Pierce and Amanda (Ryan) Fraser; three great-granddaughters, Taylor Barnes, Paige Pierce, and Abigail Pierce; two great-grandsons, Frederick Pierce and Daniel Pierce; nieces, Barbara Jacobs, Karen Zietzmann, Kay Burlison, Jerri Berry, Sandra Parrish, and Diane Holden; sister-in-law, Margaret Roberts; and cousin, John (Patty) Bradley. She was preceded in death by: her husband, Walter; son, Michael; son-in law, Ernest Pierce; half sister, Alfreda Elkins; nephews, Louis and Bill Elkins; and niece, Joyce O'Meara. Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015. A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015, in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Tamara Kanatzar officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to Capital Region Medical Center Partners Scholarship Fund or the charity of their choice. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com