Norma Abbott NOVEMBER 5, 1929 ~ SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 (AGE 88)

Norma Abbott, 88, of Browning, Missouri went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at the Baptist Home in Chillicothe, Missouri.

The daughter of James William “Jay” and Leatha (Bagley) Smith, she was born November 5, 1929 near Brookfield, Missouri. On March 12, 1948 in Brookfield, she married Clifford E. Abbott and he preceded her in death on March 13, 2009. Also preceding her were her parents; a grandson, William W. Scarbrough; four brothers, James, Jerald, Gary, and Dean Smith; and one sister, Mary Havens.

She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Shuler and husband Ron of Letts, Iowa and Jo Ellen Gillis of El Reno, Oklahoma; one son Russell Abbott and wife Lou Ann of Browning, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Jonathan (Jeanette) Shuler, James (Kelly) Shuler, Melissa (Matt) Thompson, David (Paula) Scarbrough, Sherry Grimes, Michele (Brett) Murrell, and Jessica (Keith) Eaton; 20 great grandchildren, Tyler Shuler, Carter Shuler, Sophia Shuler, Jakob Shuler, Austin Shuler, Allie Shuler, Charley Shuler, Kaitlyn Thompson, Kathleen Thompson, PFC Krissandra Thompson, Caleb Thompson, Kyle Grimes, D'Shaya Grimes, Jeremiah Grimes, Aaron Scarbrough, Shyanne Scarbrough, Logan Murrell, Liam Murrell, Alyssa Murrell, and Sutton Eaton; two sisters, Janet Wingate of Brookfield, Missouri and Judy Watson of Colona, Illinois and several nieces and nephews.

Norma accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young adult and following her marriage to Clifford she served the Lord faithfully as a pastor’s wife for the rest of her life. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Browning. Most of her life she lived in Linn and Sullivan Counties except for a few years in Indiahoma, Oklahoma. For a few years she drove the Oat’s Bus. She loved making quilts and donated many to the victims of fires. She also enjoyed cooking, reading, gardening, fishing, and hunting. Most of all she enjoyed being with her children and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, September 15, 2018 at the First Baptist Church in Browning. Interment will follow in the Purdin Cemetery at Purdin, Missouri. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Browning Baptist Church. Ruschmeier Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The family has suggested contributions in Norma’s memory to the Browning Baptist Church or The Baptist Home.