Norma Joyce Morgan

Mrs. Norma Joyce Morgan, 88, of Frederick passed away peacefully on Friday, January 7, 2022, at her residence in the presence of her family.  For 71 years, she was the loving and devoted wife of Dale Morgan, who survives her.

Born May 13, 1933, at the family home in Barnes, Kansas, she was the daughter of the late William Roberts and Bessie Justis Roberts.  The early years of her life were spent on the family farm in Barnes until her family moved to Denver, Colorado, when she was eight.  There she met the love of her life, Dale. They were childhood neighbors, then dated as teens and were married in 1950.

Norma was a loving wife and homemaker, raising two children.  Initially making their home in Denver (and briefly in Oceanside, California while Dale was serving at Camp Pendleton with the Marine Corps), she and Dale owned a flower shop, then moved to Boulder in 1963 when Dale returned to college.  His further education and professional development then took them to Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago before they eventually settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, where they lived for more than 10 years.

This was then followed by moves to Roseburg, Oregon, Jackson, Wyoming, and Franklin, Louisiana, where she rode out Hurricane Katrina in the hospital Dale administered there.  In retirement, they lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and northern California before settling in Frederick in the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Susan and John Cunliffe.  Wherever they lived, Norma became an integral part of the community, especially that of her church.  Her dedication to her family, church, and community was an inspiration to everyone whose lives she touched.

Norma also found time to become ardently engaged in the breeding and competitive showing of Bichons Frises.  Several of her dogs were breed national champions and one, Jean Paul (named after the pirate Jean Paul Lafitte), was the 1993 nonsporting group winner at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York.  Her last dog, Jeff, came East with her to Frederick.

In addition to Dale, Norma is survived by her daughter, Susan (John) Cunliffe; her son, Paul (Kay) Morgan; her grandchildren Brian (Jennifer) Edwards, William (Lara) Morgan, Andrew (Christina) Cunliffe, and Amy Morgan; and seven great-grandchildren.

A service and celebration of Norma’s life prior to internment will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 21, 2022 in the Mausoleum at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market St., Frederick, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Norma’s name may be made to Frederick Memorial Hospital’s Hospice Endowment Fund .