Opal Louise Norris

Louise Hughes Norris left this earthly world on Monday, March 4, 2024, following a brief illness.  In her 94 years, she lived life of faith and gratitude, sharing her love of Christ with everyone she met.

Opal Louise Hughes was born September 4,1929 at a farmhouse in rural Galesburg, Kansas.  She was the daughter of Roleigh Francis and Opal Reed Hughes. Louise was raised in Christian faith, playing piano for her congregations at an early age.

She was active in her church and school, graduating from Galesburg High following the end of World War II. She attended Parsons Junior College and later Kansas State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University) in Pittsburg.

While at Labette, she was introduced through a chain length fence to a tall football player who had just enrolled under the G.I. Bill.  Practice had concluded so the player, still in pads, climbed over the fence to ask to walk Louise to her home. That football player was F.L. (Slick) Norris and the rest, they say, is history.

Slick and Lousie both graduated from Parsons JU CO and later from KSTC, where both received teaching degrees. They were united in marriage on June 7, 1953, at Galesburg Christian Church.  They went on to teaching assignments throughout Kansas until Louise decided raising a family outweighed her love of education. She gave birth to Greg and later Jeff, both of whom she cherished.

The family relocated throughout Kansas and Wyoming until a job opportunity at Labette County High School brought the family back to Altamont. A farm was purchased in 1970, where Louise turned an old, dated house into a home.  She traveled to all of her sons' sporting events, often shouting their names to the point of their on-court embarrassment. Her love for Christ and her family remained in her heart her entire life.

Survivors include sons Greg Norris and his wife, Karen, of Dewey, Oklahoma; and Jeff Norris and his wife, Cyndi, of Bella Vista, Arkansas; four grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; two great- great grandchildren; and her sister, Loucille Little of Neosho, Missouri.

Louise was proceeded in death by her parents, Roleigh and Opal Hughes, husband Slick Norris and grandson Clint Norris.

The funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Parsons Church of Christ.  Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Church of Christ.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS  67357.