Norma Lou Edwards, of Oconto, WI, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on Thursday, November 7, 2024, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.  She was a breast cancer survivor of 37 years.

  Norma was born on March 4th, 1938, in Graymont, IL to the late C. Earl & Sarah E. (Whitaker) Duncan. When her parents divorced in 1941, Norma, along with her mother & siblings then went to live near family in Washington, IL.  In 1945, her mother married Alfred Nelson & they moved to the Nelson farm in Streator, IL, where she would live until 1958.

  Norma attended school in Long Point, IL, graduating from Woodland High School, Streator, IL, in 1955.  She attended a 3-year nursing program at Methodist Medical Center of Nursing - Peoria, IL, graduating as a registered nurse, in 1958. 

  Norma was very proud of her nursing career, which began with private duty for a surgical patient. She also served as an RN in surgery, emergency and then a doctor’s office for 12 years.  After moving to MO, she worked as a home health & hospice RN.  She also did duty as a traveling RN in Bradenton, FL.  Norma would say “Once a Nurse, Always a Nurse!”.

  After graduating from nursing school, on August 24th, that same year, she married William Edwards in Long Point, IL. The couple resided in the Streator, IL area, until Bill’s retirement in 1994. They then lived in MO, just south of Branson, for 12 years before moving to Oconto, WI in 2006.  She & Bill celebrated their 60th Anniversary in 2018, before Bill passed away in September, that same year, at the age of 85.  Norma was at peace toward her end & said she was looking forward to reuniting with Bill.

  Norma was a very talented artist in tole & decorative painting - with a cottage business, “The TolTal Look by Norma”.  Painting was also a pastime she enjoyed that included teaching others, right up to a month before becoming ill.  She studied under the famed Priscilla Hauser, Bob Ross & Dorothy Dent.  She also did a TV lesson in CA for Aleene’s Glue Co. One of Norma’s tole pieces, a tin Christmas ornament is at the IL Smithsonian Institute.

  Norma was a member of the Oconto United Methodist Church, The IL Painter’s Assn & The Oconto American Legion Auxiliary. After moving to WI, she and Bill could not help becoming members of Packer Nation—they were avid Green Bay Packer fans!!

  Norma was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather Alfred Nelson; husband Bill; siblings, Betty (Melvin) Duncan Hurst & James (Brenda) Duncan; one niece & two nephews.

  Survivors include her children, Jo (Laurel) Edwards of Oconto, WI and Mark (Terri) Edwards of Cedar Rapids, IA; grandchildren, Megan (Brittany) Maas, Nile Edwards, Kate (Ellen) Edwards & Luke Edwards; five nieces & many special friends.

  Visitation will be held from 9am till 11am, followed by a funeral service in Streator, IL at the Solon Telford Funeral Home, on Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, Burial will follow at the Long Point Cemetery in Long Point, IL.

  The family would like to thank the staff at Sun Valley Bright Life Assisted Living, Unity Hospice, the ADRC & Bellin Health, for the care and services they provided, along with family & friends for their loving support.  Memorials may be made to the Oconto United Methodist Church or the Methodist College Nursing Scholarship Foundation in Norma’s name.

  Online condolences may be left for the family at?www.solontelford.com