Norma Louise (Pettibon) Yoos, 89, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, after a brief illness. Norma was born Dec. 20, 1934, to Norman Lewis Pettibon and Lucille Anna (Pilcher) Pettibon in rural Deerfield, Missouri.
She was a 1952 graduate of Nevada High School. After high school, Norma worked at the Western Insurance Company in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Norma married Ralph Eugene “Gene” Yoos on Dec. 17, 1955. They worked together on their family farm in active partnership. They raised their three children on the farm: David Eugene, Norma Jean, and Lewis Henry “Hank” Yoos.
Norma loved reading; her daily routine was reading her beloved newspapers: the Joplin Globe, Pittsburg Sun, Nevada Daily Mail, Fort Scott Tribute, and Lamar Democrat. She always started with the comics and read all the articles local, national, and international focusing on political, social, and arts events in the four counties and two states she lived and worked in for most of her life. She was a lifelong Democrat, loved cooking, gardening, travel, and staying connected with friends and family writing letters in her exquisite handwriting.
Norma enjoyed her friendly, peaceful neighborhood and the convenience of living in Joplin, Missouri in the last few years of her life, claiming it was the first warm house she ever lived in after a lifetime of living in drafty farmhouses.
Norma is survived by her daughter, Norma Jean; son, Lewis H. “Hank” (Michele); grandchildren, Sheena, Derrick, and Jared (Amber) Dickey, A. J. Yoos Verdusco; great-grandchildren, Keyton Dickey and Jordyn Dickey; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and their families near and far.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Gene Yoos; son, David Yoos; her parents, Norman and Lucille Pettibon; and her two sisters, Margaret Leatherman and Beverly Davis.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with Steve Leatherman and Jared Dickey officiating. Private family interment will follow in McKill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Solace House of the Ozarks, Missouri Department of Conservation, or your local library in c/o Ferry Funeral Home.
You may view obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com
