Norma Oliver Terrell, 82, passed away October 9, 2021, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born Norma Carol Oliver in Boaz, Alabama on December 21, 1938, to her loving parents, Inez and Arlie Oliver. She graduated from Boaz High School in 1956 and Snead Junior College in 1958. After graduation, Norma married Carl Jack Terrell also of Boaz on June 15, 1958. They enjoyed 59 happily married years together.
Norma and Carl began their married life in Boaz. Norma was working for Marshall Space Flight Center and commuting to/from Huntsville daily for work. In 1962 they both had jobs in Huntsville and moved there permanently. They enjoyed traveling, making new friends, and visiting lifelong friends, Alabama ballgames and hosting parties in their home and garden.
Norma was a career federal employee of NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center, supporting a wide range of space and science developmental programs and the Space Shuttle System. She was known as a “gatekeeper”. Ever protective of the schedules of the team she supported, visitors, which she usually called by name, had to first get through Norma to spend time with any engineer. She was always dressed in style in her fashionable suits and high heel shoes.
In Huntsville, Norma was a member of Southside Baptist Church participating in the adult choir and playing the autoharp for the children’s choir. She and Carl joined Weatherly Heights Baptist Church in 1975. Weatherly became their church home, and they loved their church family. Norma was a member of the adult choir and led the music committee during the acquisition of the beautiful pipe organ in the new sanctuary.
After retirement from NASA, Norma could work full time on her love of gardening. Her garden was a work of art that she loved sharing with others. Plants were dug up, divided, and given to friends. Even today you will find Norma’s “babies” in gardens all over Huntsville. She secured her Master Gardener Certification in 1993 and could often be found at the Huntsville Botanical Garden sharing her gifts to help the garden grow.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband Carl, her parents, Arlie and Inez Oliver, and her sister, Sue Oliver Thomas. She is survived by her two daughters, Suzanne (Art) Metcalf of Athens, Alabama, and Stacy (Mark) Frank of Sandy Springs, Georgia; and granddaughter, Olivia Frank of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Norma’s greatest joy in her last years came from her beloved granddaughter Olivia Frank. Olivia’s notables were quickly attached within her view and she loved sharing this with her friends.
A service to celebrate her life will be held in Huntsville at a future date. Donations in her memory may be made to Weatherly Heights Baptist Church Music Department or the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
