Norma Irene Risley

Norma Irene Risley 91 passed away on July 28th 2017 in Topeka Kansas. She was born on July 6, 1926 in Topeka, KS. She went to Topeka high school. She married Silas P Risley JR. in 1944 they had 4 beautiful children. she is survived by 3.. Serena Pierce (Topeka), best daughter in the world and 13 year caretaker, Silas Risley III(Brodie) (Hendersonville, NC) number one son and ex bad boy, Sharlotte Risley (West Hampton, MA), best baby bratty daughter, Samuel Risley deceased. He was a Marine who made it back from Vietnam and died from shennnaigans, she will always be remembered by her 8 grandchildren: Jennifer Emert, Monique Nobo, Christina Mapes, Elena Bauguess, Samantha Werner, Megan Risley, Michelle Pierce, Rebecca Pierce, her 16 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren who will hear awesome stories about her and one burro named Jumper! Norma was a wife and An Awesome Mother, first and foremost. She also worked at Great Plains doing sales. She taught herself to type after finding a typewriter on one of her walks probably in the alley by her house. She then became a transcriptionist at Stormont Vail for years, dude she could type fast and accurately. She never learned to drive and walked to work and everywhere else as long as she could! She never wore pants, only skirts and dresses. Her tireless efforts founded the campfire girls in Topeka, KS even though she never received credit. I hereby give her credit!

Norma and Silas were divorced after years of marriage, and that's when things got crazy! She started wearing pants and discovered honkytonks, cowboys, cigarettes and booze. Hallelujah!!!!

She also had a thing for men in kilts and what was under their kilts....Norma loved reading, frogs, antiques, walking, the art of collecting treasures especially found ones, bagpipes, family, sewing, she made dolls and collected dolls, loved working in clay, searching alleys, laying bricks, she also learned to be a farmer!.......and so much more..... Monique-"She fixed my teddy bear over many years." Christina-"Grandma gave me a loan to buy a car and she also let me rent her house on Franklin ave for many years allowing me to save enough money to buy my first home. Elena-"She saved my life when I stopped breathing as a baby!" Jennifer-"I had my 1st birthday party at her house and l learned that Grandma said whatever was on her mind." Michelle-"Grandma always was willing to help me, whether it was a place to live with my children or assistance in caring for them and never made me feel as if I were imposing. I felt that she was my Grandmother, my Mother as well as my Father." Benjamin- "Great Grandma would love when I would hold her hand and kiss the top of her hand. She said I was her little gentleman."

Jay D Pierce, Son in law, #1 pain in the butt. He helped care for Norma's house and entertained grandma with his silly antics.

Serena.- "My mother was my mother and my best friend. We were like Laurel and Hardy. We loved laughing together. Mom would love telling jokes she could not recall the punchline to."
The love we hold for Norma is Immeasurable.

To share a memory with Norma's family, please visit the guestbook below.