Norma Jean Harms

Norma Jean (DeHart) Harms passed away on December 17, 2022 at Sharon Lane Health Center in Shawnee Kansas.  Norma was born on May 1, 1934 in Wheatland Missouri--the 5th of 6 daughters born to Buel and Dona (Moore) Forehand.

Norma attended school in Wheatland and Hermitage, Missouri where she made many lifelong friends and memories.  In 1950 Norma married Raymond Gene DeHart from Pittsburgh Missouri.  She and Raymond moved to the Kansas City area in 1955 where Raymond was employed as an elementary teacher and principal.  They settled in Shawnee in an area known as the Greenwood Community.  She loved being a part of The “Greenwood Moms. “  Norma had many different jobs throughout her life: Van’s Grocery Store, Glad Tidings Bookstore and Ted’s Manufacturing—all local Shawnee businesses.   She was very proud of her career with Home Interiors where she served as a representative and in home consultant for more than 20 years.  Although Norma had no formal training, she was a gifted interior decorator with a natural talent in flower arranging.  She was always willing to help with flowers for weddings and church and family events.

Following the death of her first husband Norma married Paul Harms in 1965.  They raised their blended family in Shawnee, Kansas.

She had a very active social life and enjoyed many happy times with friends, family and neighbors.   One of her favorite activities was playing any type of card game.  She excelled at bridge and belonged to several bridge groups and also a pinochle group.   No matter what kind of cards she was dealt she made the best of every hand and had a good time.  And that pretty much sums up her approach to life:  she played the hand she was dealt.

After retirement she and Paul enjoyed traveling throughout the United States.  Some of their best times were spent with friends and relatives in the Lake Pomme de Terre area of Southwest Missouri. Norma was active in Hope Lutheran Church and later in Shawnee Nazarene Church and filled her life with service to others.

She and Paul were both proud of their dedicated service to the ministries of Youth for Christ and Prison Ministry.  Norma’s faith and belief in Jesus Christ was very important to her.  She was involved in teaching and participating in many Bible studies through the years.

Following Paul’s death in 2017, Norma moved to Shawnee Hills—a retirement community in western Shawnee.   She had many fun times and enjoyed the variety of activities offered there and made even more friends.  However, her social life at Shawnee Hills was greatly interrupted by the COVID Pandemic in 2020.  Once the restrictions were eased, she never fully recovered her former disposition and spent a lot of time in her apartment.

Norma always enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She looked forward to their visits and participated in many outings and get togethers until her health declined.

In November 2022, due to Norma’s declining health it became necessary to move her to Sharon Lane—a long term nursing facility in Shawnee.

Besides her husbands and parents, she was preceded in death by an infant baby boy in 1956, her son Ronald R. DeHart (1979) and her two stepsons Victor Paul Harms (2008) and Kenneth Ray Harms (2011) and a stillborn great granddaughter, Josie Ray Whitecotton in 2020.   Her sisters Sylvia, Wanda, Emma and Ruth also preceded her in death.

Survivors include her sister Ellen DeHart of Springfield, Mo, her sister-in-law Maxine DeHart of Hermitage, Mo, daughters Donna DeHart (Michael) of Gardner, Ks and Connie Basel (Brian) of Overland Park, Ks and her stepdaughter Paulette Peterman (Karl) of Altura, Mn.

She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and their spouses: Maxson and Claire Irsik, Tessa and Curt Lyman, Maudie and Ross Starcher, Laura and David Belt, Ron Basel, Emily and Ben Whitecotton, Tanya and John Trimborn, Cory and Sharla Peterman, Kyle and Jolene Peterman, Greta and Ben Verthein, John, Kristina and Stephanie Harms

30 great grandchildren:

Mallie, Isaak, Hazel and Adeline Irsik

Greyson and Kade Lyman

Rowdey, Wryles, Maudie Emeline, Reno and Posey Starcher

Abbey and Louie Belt

Olivia and Edmund Basel

Graham and Mia Whitecotton

Jayden, Kiera, Liam, Corbin, Dalton, Henry and Raina Peterman,

Kylie, Tyler and Trysten Verthein,

Phoebe Harms

Gabriel and Addy Trimborn

In addition, she leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends to mourn her passing and celebrate the life she lived.

We were all blessed to know her and she is already missed.

Norma’s journey was not always easy but she kept her faith, fought the good fight and finished the race.

“Absent from the body…. present with the Lord”

2nd Corinthians 5:8

Maranatha:  Home at Last.