Norma Staley

Norma Arlene Staley (June 20th, 1924 – November 26th, 2022)

Norma was born in Chariton, Iowa to Rosocoe Steven Threlkeld and Therissa Therlkeld. Norma was the oldest child and had three siblings. Dorothy Mary Threlkeld (February 18th, 1926) Wallace Therlkeld (June 5th, 1928) and Ted F. Therlkeld (April 21st, 1932). They were raised in Maxwell, Iowa with her father Ross working in the oilfield for Atlantic Richfield and her mother being a seamstress who sewed and caretaker of the home and children. Norma’s first job was during WWII in Des Moines, Iowa. She was working with the military in an ordinance factory and made it to supervisor.

Norma met her husband Joseph after WWII and they got married in Des Moines, Iowa on December 24th, 1949. Norma and Joe had two sons, Douglas Joseph Staley (October 14th, 1950) born in Des Moines, Iowa, and Trenton James Staley (October 29th, 1954) born in Springfield, Missouri. Norma and Joe raised their children in Oklahoma City but moved around a lot due to Joe’s work. Norma worked for Sivval & Brisson which was a worldwide manufacturing company in Oklahoma City. She worked with engineers all over the middle east, she also worked for Howard Hughes in Oklahoma City as well.

Norma’s life took a drastic turn in the Summer of 1966, when Douglas got into a motorcycle accident in Dallas, Texas leaving him with a serve brain injury. Norma became his caregiver and advocate full time. Norma and Joe then moved to Denver, Colorado in the 1990s to be closer to her son Trenton and his wife Christina and their three children. Joe worked as a self-employed carpenter throughout the metro Denver area and fell ill ten years later of living in Colorado. He died from a battle of lung cancer in the Spring of 2000.

Norma’s remaining years she lived in South Denver, near family and friends. She was involved in her church, loved exercising, and socializing in the local community center. She was extremely active and well-read during her last few years and was always happy to be around. She loved to read, sew, listen to music and always up for getting a good suntan out on her back deck in the Colorado sunshine. She loved peanut brittle around Christmas time and never turned down a trip to Nordstroms. She was always the best dressed and life of the parties. She had three grandchildren who all lived local and she saw often. They all got married and had children of their own, she had seven great grandchildren whom she all met. She will be dearly missed now that she is with the lord, her husband Joe and son Douglas.