Norma Lea Crockett

Norma Crockett, longtime resident of Minneapolis, passed away Tuesday August 13th with family members by her side. Although a stroke she suffered last May was not life threatening, complications and underlying health conditions prevented her from returning home. She took a sudden downturn on Sunday evening after being sharp and in good spirits during the day. One month shy of her 93rd birthday, Norma looked back on her life with gratitude for all the wonderful people she knew and the adventures she was lucky enough to experience. Born in Kansas City, Missouri she lived with her parents, Tony and Othel Garrett, and her two sisters, Jeanne and Betty, before going to college and getting a BS in business administration at the age of 19. She met her husband, James Crockett, in college and married at age 20. She worked during the years Jim was in veterinary school as a secretary, running a small grocery out of their apartment building and doing daycare for other student families, while raising the first two of their 6 children. In the late 1950s they moved to Minneapolis where Jim owned and operated 3 veterinary clinics, the first being Lyndale Animal Hospital, at 26th and Lyndale Ave S. They took their family on many camping and fishing trips and especially enjoyed Crockett's Launch Service on Leech Lake. Sadly Jim died of cancer way too young in 1976. They had been married for 25 years. A widow at 44, Norma later married Bob Arndt and they were together for over 30 years until he passed away in 2010. After her first husband died she decided to go into business for herself. She went back to school to learn property management and maintenance and eventually owned several apartment buildings in south Minneapolis selling her last building in 2017. She learned to play tennis and went on many downhill skiing trips with Bob and kept both of these activities up well into her 70s. Norma and Bob enjoyed a busy social life and travelled whenever they could. They were volunteers in the local Minneapolis VOSH organization, trained to clean and fit eyeglasses for people in developing countries. This involved travel to destinations not on any typical tourist routes. They had many adventures along the way, especially with the various modes of transportation and accommodations available in these areas. A short list of countries they visited includes Columbia, Ukraine, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, & India. Many of Norma's friends know she was quite a storyteller and loved to share a good OR bad joke with anyone. Amusing anecdotes about her travels, friends, and family, peppered with jokes were her schtick. Norma was an entertaining comic and enjoyed her role as emcee for her friends in the senior tap dance troupe who performed in many venues throughout the city. Since 2011 Norma has loved living at Kenwood Isles Condominiums in Uptown Minneapolis. She was happy to land there just before her 80th birthday. She began her residency by hosting a riproaring birthday bash that included a live band and a line dance instructor. Although the party shut down by 10pm she did receive 2 noise complaints. Norma always had a glass half full approach to life. She made new friends and relished new experiences wherever she found herself. The day before she passed on, one of the doctors in the ICU came to check on her. She always made a point of focusing on the name tag of her caregivers, repeating it aloud and asking a question about it to help her remember the good people taking care of her. This ICU doctor's first name was Pierre and she asked him "Pierre, were you in the Olympics......or are you just a doctor? So Norma! Norma is survived by her sister Betty Maier, and her children, Toni Crockett, Bruce Crockett, Susan Crockett, John Hopkins, Eliza Crockett, Jim Crockett, 13 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by Jeanne Clifton, James Crockett, and Robert Arndt. To watch Norma's service remotely, please go to: https://www.washburn-mcreavy.com/obituaries/Norma-Crockett/#!/PhotosVideos Funeral services will be held for Norma on Thursday August 22nd 10 am viewing, 11 am service, at Washburn McReavy Funeral Chapel 5000 West 50th St (Hwy 100) Edina, MN 55436 In lieu of flowers please donate to: VOSH-Voluntary Optometric Service to Humanity International. https://vosh.org

Tributes

Norma Lea Crockett

September 20, 1931 - August 13, 2024

Tributes

Norma Lea Crockett

September 20, 1931 - August 13, 2024

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