Norma June McCormack Elwell passed peacefully, surrounded by family, in her home after a sudden illness on Thursday, November 5, 2020.

Norma June McCormack Elwell was born in Warrensburg, Missouri on June 30, 1940 to Forrest Ora McCormack and Alma Orine McCormack (Bird). Norma's nickname as a child was "No-No".  She was typically a very good little girl and no-no was all it took to correct her.  She was raised on a farm where she was an only child for most of that time.   Some of her first memories were going to the corn field with Aunt Lula and Uncle Earl Joy when she was 2 – 3 years old.  She also recalled her Uncle Al visiting and playing with her.  He pretended he died and fell on the floor with his mouth wide open; she dropped the dishrag in his open mouth.  Norma also remembered the many times her Uncle Bill Bird would visit.  He was only 4 years older, so he was like an older brother.  Once he ate some treated corn seed her dad had for planting and he about died.  Norma loved the team of horses, Tommie and Richard.  She wanted to ride a horse.  When her father would come in from the fields at the end of the day with the tired horses he would put her up on one and plow the potato patch, so that is how she got to ride a horse.

Norma attended Walker School for eight years but did not graduate as they moved to town two months before the end of school.  She went on to attend and graduate from Warrensburg High School in 1958.  After graduation, she worked for Town and Country Shoe Factory until she started college at CMSU.

Norma met Charles Otis Elwell on a blind date where he gave her a ride on his '47 Harley.  They married March 28, 1959 in Miami, Oklahoma.  After a year or so, they were able to purchase some land and fulfill Charles' dream of owning a farm and raising cattle.  They moved into the old Victory Schoolhouse, in rural northeast Warrensburg, and remodeled it into a two-bedroom home.  Over the years, they added more acreage and built a new house across the road from the schoolhouse.  Norma was a stay-at-home wife and mother, while Charles worked as a union electrician.  She kept the home fires burning, literally as they always burned wood in the stove for heat.  She checked the cattle every day, and as needed, fixed fences, doctored calves, slopped hogs, grew a large garden, and all the other hundred different things that needed doing on a farm.

In July 1973, they became foster parents to three sisters and adopted them on February 7, 1977.  They had also fostered another daughter, Barbara, for a few months until she returned to her mother's care.  Barb kept in touch until her death in 2016.

Norma would sew for her girls and after they grew up, she renewed her interest in sewing and took up quilting; making baby blankets for the grandbabies as they came along.

She was a member of Loyal Neighbors for many years, serving as president much of the time.  When her daughters were young, she was instrumental in starting a 4-H Club and helped lead the clothing projects.

Charles suffered a stroke, following open heart surgery, in December 2010.  They did not return to the farm but moved into their smaller place closer to town.  She was his caregiver until his passing on Christmas 2016.  They were married 57 years.

Norma was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church for many years until she began attending JC Cowboy Church in 2016.  She started a book box where she shared free books for children and adults.  She was also a member of the Quilting Fellowship that made quilts for people of the church suffering from cancer or other illnesses.  She also provided quiet and soft toys for the youngest attendants of church.

She is survived by her children, Jeanie and husband,  Larry Rambo, of Elkland, Suzanne McCormack of Joseph, Oregon, Melissa and husband,  Juan Garza, of Warrensburg, eight grandchildren; Brandon Rambo and wife Lisa, Rachel Ockwell, Christine Susa and husband Garrett, Jessica Prust and husband Josh, Devon Bowder, Caleb Garza and wife Desiree, Montana Garcia and husband Omar, and Dominic Garza, and nineteen great-grandchildren, and two brothers, Thomas McCormack and David McCormack, wife, Christina, of Warrensburg.  She is preceded in death by an infant sister, Nancy-Ann McCormack, her parents, Forrest O McCormack and Alma O Adams, foster daughter, Barbara Morrow, and infant great-grandchild, and her beloved husband, Charles O Elwell.

Norma will be remembered as a lover of animals, an extremely hard worker, and as the best mama, grandma, and best great-grandma.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 9th at the Cowboy Church, near the Johnson County fair grounds, followed by a private committal service at Warrensburg Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, November 8th at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Cowboy Church or Show-Me Christian Youth Home at La Monte.

Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net.