Norma Hooton

Norma Jean Hooton, also known as “Red”, relocated to her heavenly home on December 14, 2023, at the Hobbs BeeHive Assisted Living Facility in Hobbs, New Mexico.  She was 89 years young.  Norma was born on September 12, 1934, in Aurora, Missouri to Jacque Delbert and Lottie Mae McCallister where she grew up in the Missouri Ozarks with her 6 siblings.

Norma graduated from the Aurora, Missouri High School and soon after, married her sweetheart David Kay Hooton on September 15, 1951.  Together they raised 4 children and numerous pets.  When the family was young, they ventured to Monument, NM where David began his career in the oilfield. The family later relocated to Hobbs where Norma’s work career began with the General Telephone of the Southwest.  She was trained to be a telephone operator and worked the switchboards. Now for you younger folks, the old-fashioned telephone operator used wired plugs to connect and disconnect phone calls…way before equipment was digitized or computerized like it is today.  Norma mastered her craft and worked her way into a supervisory position.  Norma worked for the phone company for 30 years before she retired. Norma also worked at the Woodruff Answering Service on nights and weekends.  After she and David both retired, they created a janitorial service that contracted with the phone company to keep many of their properties clean and mowed.  Several of their grandchildren and great grandchildren would help out to earn extra money.  The janitorial service traveled out 300+ miles (one way) to clean offices, switch rooms, warehouses and storage yards.  Together they were a great tag team and were on the go constantly.

One thing that is greatly missed by family are the wonderful holiday meals with Norma’s cooking and baking.  She loved making tons of cookies and candies, cheesecakes, pies, and her family favorite Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake, all made from scratch.  She loved hosting large family gatherings at her home and always prepared way too much food that was always divided up for her family to take home or the leftovers were taken to families and other places that feed the less fortunate in Hobbs.  She had a heart for Hobbs, New Mexico!

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, David Kay Hooton, her parents, her 4 brothers - John, Tom, Harry, and Donnie McCallister and 1 sister - Betty Jo Perdieu, 1 grandson – Jason Jeremiah Byram and 1 great grandson – Luke Mason.

Norma has 1 remaining sister, Katie Mae (Jerry) Brown, 4 children – David Ray (Donna) Hooten of Hobbs, NM, Shelia Hooton of Weatherford, TX, Karmeta (Steve) Reinert of Las Vegas, NV, and Terri (Nick) Keele of Hobbs, NM.  Norma is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren.  Her quiver was full!

Norma’s final moments were spent surrounded by family and friends as she transitioned from this life to her eternal heavenly home and into the arms of her loving husband and her Savior Jesus Christ.

Norma will be remembered for her generosity, kindness, unselfishness, and her attitude of true concern for others.  She was always putting someone’s need above her own.  She befriended numerous people throughout her life and was a role model to many.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.  Norma’s family asks that she be remembered for the joy she brought to others in life and not the sadness of her passing.