Norma “Dean” was born November 27, 1941, in Lincoln, Alabama. She moved to Huntsville in the third grade when her father took a job at NASA and they lived in the close community of Redstone Park, where she made many life-long friends. She attended Farley Grammar School and graduated from Butler High School in 1960. She attained an associate’s degree in administrative/secretarial skills from North Alabama College of Commerce business school.
After graduating, she worked as a secretary for an engineer at NASA. She met Billy Hayden Smith on a blind date, and they were married May 28, 1964. They moved to Germany where Billy was stationed in the United States Army for three years. They returned to Huntsville and had their daughter, Julie Kathryn. Dean stayed at home to raise their daughter and worked part time at Billy’s engineering firm, Smith Engineering, using her administrative skills. Dean was a woman of faith and was a member of Weatherly Heights Baptist Church since 1981 where she volunteered in the nursery and enjoyed the life-long friendships of her Sunday school class. She adored her son-in -law and her three grandchildren. She babysat her grandchildren often and was involved in all their activities and interests.
Dean was preceded in death by her parents, Armand Woodrow Meharg and Pearl Laverne Thomas Meharg, and her husband, Billy Hayden Smith. She is survived by her daughter, Julie Kathryn Smith Jones; son-in-law, Chuck Jones; grandchildren, Harrison Jones, Hayden Jones, and Anna Kathryn Jones, all of Huntsville.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Weatherly Heights Baptist Church. The service will follow at the church at 2 p.m. with Dr. David Freeman and the Rev. Valerie Burton officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
