Ruby Self Norman, 98, passed away at home March 25, 2025.
The dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty, Miss Ruby Lee Self, met and married William Dillard Norman (Bill), in Cullman, when the world was at war. They created for themselves a full life together raising, eight children, wrangling and loving a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, while enjoying all this earth’s bounty.
Her life’s work included a career in nursing but she and Bill took great pleasure in gardening, in travel, hiking, pets, in kids, friends of kids, friends of pets, and in strays, human and otherwise, that wandered into their orbit and were embraced and loved. She was instrumental in helping organize the North Alabama chapter of the National Audubon Society and was president of that organization for many years. She
created a Prayer Shawl Ministry at her church in which she stayed active until her health no longer allowed. It was a life full lived.
Ruby is survived by seven of her eight children: Carolyn DeJonker of Hartselle, Deborah Norman, surviving wife of our brotherTommy Norman, of Hartselle, Julia McLean of Hoover, Kathryn McGinley (Tom) of Nashville, Rebecca Norman (Jack Ginay) of Chicago, Lee Ann Cocke (James) of Tampa, Elisabeth Gardner (Paul) of Prattville and Guy Norman (Shelia) of Hartselle.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her son, Tommy Norman, her son-in-law, Bob DeJonker and by more family and friends than one heart could bear.
A Graveside Service will be held on Thursday at 2:00 PM in the Hartselle City Cemetery. Bro. Bobby Ray Halbrooks will officiate and Peck Funeral Home will be directing. She has been interred next to Bill in Hartselle City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to local animal shelters or to Hospice of the Valley, Decatur, without whose care we could not have borne this loss.
Peck Funeral Home
