Norma DeYoung Stagner, (89) entered The Church Triumphant on May 14, following a brief hospitalization. Norma was born in Huntsville Alabama in 1935, the daughter of Donald and Nellie DeYoung. She graduated from Huntsville High School in 1953 and attended the University of Alabama from ’53-’55. She married Paige Stagner II in 1955, and their son, Paige, was born in 1956. During a stint in Germany with the US Army, Jennifer was born, followed by their return to Huntsville, where daughters Anne and Terri were born.
Norma was the consummate homemaker and volunteer for her children’s many activities. She served as room mother and meet director, sewed beautiful clothing for her daughters and granddaughters, delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at the HELP line, including serving as their Interim Director. Her cooking and baking were a blessing to many who enjoyed her hospitality.
Paige and Norma were active members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since 1961. Norma served in numerous leadership capacities including chairing the Social Ministry committee and serving as the first female president of the Church Council. She was an active member of the “Smokies Group”, a camping/backpacking group from St. Marks which formed in the 70’s and continued to gather for nearly 50 years.
After all 4 of her children completed their advanced degrees, Norma returned to college in 1990, graduating with honors from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She used her BA in Sociology to further her ministry with those most vulnerable among us. For 10 years, she served as the Founding Director of Lutheran Ministries of Alabama, designing ENRICH, a summer education program for children in south Alabama, starting HOPE, a program to train home-health aids and coordinating Lutheran Disaster Response following numerous tornadoes. As one recipient of her care said: “I don’t know what a Lutheran is, but I sure thank God for them!”
Since her retirement, Norma has continued to foster strong relationships through her many circles of friends including her church, PEO sisters, various bridge groups, neighbors, and her large extended family. She was a woman of deep and abiding faith who held relationships in the highest esteem, exhibiting intelligence, grace and humor to the very end.
Norma is preceded in death by her parents; her 8-year-old brother, Revis; her husband of 58 years, Paige Stagner, II; her son, Paige Stagner III; and her grandson, Paige Stagner IV. She is survived by her daughters, Jennifer (Paul) Bentley, Anne (Frank) Young, and Terri (Chris) Collier; daughter-in-law, Rita (Jim) McLane; grandchildren, Katie (Daniel) Veren, Robert (Laura) Crawford, Steven Bentley, Keith Bentley, Megan Crawford, Frank Young IV, Rebecca (Briggs) Campo, Sarah (Luke) Bishop, Nellie and Reid Collier; and great-grandchildren, Paige and Claire Veren, and Mark and Mia Crawford. She is also survived by her dear companion, Bert Goolsby and her dedicated helper, Joyce Schultz. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A graveside service will be at Maple Hill Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. A memorial service will take place at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at 10:00 a.m. on June 14, 2025, which would have been Norma’s 90th birthday. All are invited to join this celebration of her very full life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to either Big Oak Ranch, Business Office, 6000 Shelley Drive, Springville, AL 35146 (a Christian home for children needing a chance) or ELCA/Lutheran Disaster Response, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
