Surrounded by her four children at her home, Norma Lea Curry Shafer-Yancey peacefully passed away on May 4, 2013. She was 84. A memorial service will be held May 9 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, Kansas, at 6:30 p.m. Inurnment will be at a later date in Great Bend, Kansas.
Born on Christmas Day in 1928 to Leslie and Glenda Curry in Burlington, Washington, Norma Lea Curry and her family moved to Great Bend, Kansas, before her second birthday. Shortly after her graduation from high school, Norma met Ted Shafer at a picnic dance. They were married in 1948, and had four children. Shafer’s position with a national retail company required the family to move frequently, including to such states as Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Pennsylvania.
Six years after Shafer’s passing in 1983, Norma married Harley Yancey in Bentonville, Arkansas. The couple lived in Bella Vista, Arkansas, until Yancey’s passing in 2002. Norma then moved to Lawrence to be closer to two of her children.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings—Dean Curry, Robert Curry, and JoAnn Curry Crabb.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Melinda Huston and her husband, John, of Lawrence; Kevin Shafer and his wife, Dori, of Pleasant Hill, California; Stu Shafer and his wife, Patti, of Oskaloosa, Kansas; and Karen Johnson and her husband, Don, of Iowa City, Iowa. She had ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials are requested to be in the form of contributions to Visiting Nurses/Hospice of Lawrence, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
Karen, I have been thinking of you as well as all of your family. We can all tell what a special person your mother was. What a legacy she was able to leave behind. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Melinda, John, Kevin, Dori, Stu, Patti, Karen, and Don,
Know you will miss your mother as I am sure she meant so much to you. This I remember from stopping by on the daily walk to Lincoln School back in the 60’s. It is sad to read of her parting, but glad to know where all of you are again, other than on Facebook! Love to all of you, and may God’s blessing follow you forever.
Mindy, Kevin, Stu, and Karen
So sorry to hear about your Mom. I had lost track of her when she moved to Arkansas so had been out of touch. She and I first became acquainted when she worked at Howard’s in GB and I was in there spending my paycheck. We became fast friends and then your Dad and my husband, Don, were friends so our friendship continued. Haven’t seen any of you for years and years. You might be interested to know that Kim and her husband purchased the home you lived in on Broadway. Will hope to see you at the service in GB. She always had a big smile! Kim sends her love, also. Love, Bev
Karen and family,
I know from talking with Karen that your mom was a very special person with a great sense of humor and a zest for life. Our thoughts are with you as your mourn her passing and celebrate her life.
Bruce and Michele
Mindy, Kevin, Stu, Karen and families, please know that our hearts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Please take comfort that she is with our family in heaven. We will miss her terribly but she will live on through our hearts and memories!
I think of all the wonderful times we all had together. Your mother was very special to me. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Stu, I am so sorry to hear about the death of your mother. I know, from your comments over the years, that she was a very special person and her presence in your life was an important part of life to you. I pray that God will hold you close to His heart and give you comfort in the days ahead and that He will give you countless, priceless memories of special times spent with your mom.
You and yours are in my thoughts and prayers. My deepest sympathy is with you and all of your loved ones.
Karen,
Loving thoughts, prayers, and hugs are with you and your family during this time of grief. Your mom was a beautiful woman and I can see the resemblance in you.
Karen, my sympathy to your family. May God grant you peace.
Diane
May you find comfort in the loving memories of your Mother Stu. There is no substitute of a Mother, but there is a lasting legacy they leave in the way they raise their children. I have had the privilege of knowing one of her kids, and I can tell she did a wonderful job. Your Mother was a beautiful woman…cherish her memories, and know that she and your family will be in my prayers.
Stu, you and your family are in my thoughts. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for you.
Very sorry to hear about your mom, Stu. Our sympathies to you and your siblings.