Norma Jo Forbes, 90, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, passed away on June 28, 2022.

Norma was born on December 18, 1931 to Ivy and Ruth Coady in McAllen, Texas. After graduating from Ardmore High School in 1949, she went on to work various jobs including Montgomery Wards and Samedan Oil Corporation.

In 1952, Norma met Floyd Forbes, and they wed in 1954. They danced through marriage for 68 years. She was a fulltime homemaker and a loving, nurturing mother to three children: Ivy; Sally; Ben; and “Ma” to numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Norma was preceded in death by her mother Ruth Coady, her father Ivy Coady, her sister Peggy Ferguson, and her brother Ted Coady. She is survived by her husband Floyd Forbes, daughter Ivy Divine and husband David, daughter Sally Noble and husband Rusty, son Ben Forbes and wife Sandy, grandkids Cassie (Divine) Brown, Adam Divine, Cody Noble, Jessie (Noble) Nance, Kate (Noble) Parker, Caleb Forbes, Connor Forbes, and 11 great-grandchildren.

To sum up Norma’s life, she loved family, flowers, talking, coffee and serving others. She thrived on family gatherings and enjoyed creativity in her gift giving and activities. She had a passion for exercise all her life. She would swim across Lake Murray, walk every morning and later in life, regularly visit the gym which landed her on the front page of the Ardmoreite. A faithful servant to her church, she gave communion to the home-bound, served at the soup kitchen, played the handbells, and completed a four year religious study class. Her sense of humor and fun was obvious she organized a family Christmas caroling event with kazoos; walked her great-grandchild to Sonic in a wagon, and attended multiple Halloween parties in full costume.

She will be greatly missed by all.

We would like to thank her loving caregivers: Lisa Hays, Judy Downs, Bonnie Thompson, Rhonda Tidwell and nurses from Elara Caring.

Services will be at St. Philips Episcopal Church, Friday, July 1, 2022 at 10:30 am with Father Michael Stephenson officiating.