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<img class="size-medium wp-image-1584634" src="http://www.dailyjournal.net/wp-content/files/sites/9/2021/02/webPhoto751907-1.jpg" alt="Norma Delores Gunnerson" width="240" />Norma Delores Gunnerson
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PHOENIX, AZ
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Norma Delores (Ezra) Gunnerson, 83, passed away on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2021, with her high school sweetheart and husband of 62 years, Samuel Gunnerson, and family at her side.
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Norma was born January 31, 1938, in Francesville, Indiana, to the late Loren and Ellen (Marion) Ezra. She was the first-born child in her family, entering the world just 15 minutes before twin sister Alma. They were later joined by sister, Violet, and younger brother, Gary.
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Norma received her elementary education in a one-room country school taught by her father before attending Francesville High School. She graduated in 1956 and later attended Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus on Elementary Education.
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Norma married "her Sam" in Buffalo, Indiana, in 1959. She gave birth to daughter Diana in 1960 and later had two sons, Steven (1966) and Robert (1969.) A devoted wife and mother, Norma focused her energies on raising her kids in the safest, warmest and most loving environment any child could ask for. She also had a strong work ethic and held multiple jobs over the years that included teaching in Buffalo and Noblesville, Indiana, working as a Medicaid Claims Auditor for a pharmacy group, serving as a Receptionist/Office Manager for a pediatrician, and eventually becoming an Executive Secretary for Gunnerson Associates, a Healthcare Consulting Firm she ran with Sam for many years before they both retired.
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In addition to time spent in Noblesville, Norma also lived in Indianapolis and Greenwood, Indiana, before moving west to the Phoenix, Arizona, area after retiring.
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In her downtime, Norma enjoyed cross stitching pictures and baby quilts. She volunteered as a 4-H Leader, taught Sunday School to children ages 3 & 4, played piano and was a member of a handbell choir. She was a fan of Olympic ice skating, and she loved animals and reading romance novels. But she was happiest when she was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and other family.
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Norma passed with immense gratitude in her heart and did everything in her power to fill other hearts with gratitude. She will be deeply missed.
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She is preceded in death by her parents and her twin sister Alma.
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She is survived by her husband Sam Gunnerson, sister Violet Davis, brother Gary (Jeanette) Ezra, her children Diana (John) Novara, Steve (Sylvia) Gunnerson, Rob (Jen) Gunnerson, and her three grandchildren: Ethan and Kyle Gunnerson, and Gunni Gunnerson.
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Services will be held later in 2021 in Indiana as Covid 19 protocols allow.
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