Norma Lee James, daughter of the late Dewey Christian and Mary Wells Meeks Christian, was born on September 18, 1944, in Stoddard County and departed this life on November 10, 2024, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the age of 80 years.

Norma was a lifelong resident of Dexter. She worked as a checker at Shipman's Market for many years. She loved cooking and visiting with her many friends. No one ever left her home hungry and always left with something she had picked up that she wanted them to have. She treasured her family time, especially with her grandchildren and great-grandson.

On December 1, 1960, in St. Louis, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Tom James - her best friend for over 60 years. Tom survives at their home in Dexter.

Along with her husband, she is survived by her two children; Tami Etherton and husband Mark of Crawfordsville, Indiana and Thomas K. James and wife Kimberly of O'Fallon, Missouri; by two brothers, Charles Meeks of Godfrey, Illinois and Donnie Meeks of Alton, Illinois; by four grandchildren, Kyle Etherton (Jessica), Jake Etherton, Aidan James (Kelly) and Callie James; and by her great-grandson, Jackson Etherton.

Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Willie Meeks, Gene Christian, Jess Christian, Willard Christian and Dean Christian; and by four sisters, Peggy Sielert, Eloise Nicholson, Lula Mae Cutler and Lottie Faye Christian.

Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, November 15, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Dexter Cemetery.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.