Norma Craven

Norma Elaine Craven passed away peacefully on August 11, 2017 in Corvallis, where she had lived for the past 60 years. Norma was born September 29, 1932 to Alexander and Aida Lee Wilson at the family's home in Meade, Kansas. After graduation from Meade High School in 1950, she attended Kansas State Teacher's College in Pittsburg, Kansas. Norma was involved in many school activities, was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, and served as Class Secretary her senior year. In 1954, she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Home Economics Education. It was at Kansas State Teacher's College that she met her future husband, science education major Gene Francis Craven. They married the day after graduation, May 28, 1954, and began their teaching careers at Bird City Rural High School. Norma taught vocational home economics for two years before moving to Concordia, Kansas where her first daughter was born. In 1957, Norma and Gene moved to Corvallis. During the next several years two more daughters were added to the family. Norma gave up teaching to become a homemaker and stay-at-home mom. She loved working with children and was active in PTA and the Girl Scouts. She taught preschool for four years at the Calvin Presbyterian Church and volunteered as a Sunday school teacher at the Corvallis First United Methodist Church. As her daughters finished high school, Norma went back to work. She worked first for two years as a secretary for the Clothing and Textiles Department at OSU, and then for two years as a secretary at the Corvallis School District Office before spending a year abroad with Gene in Penang, Malaysia. Upon returning to Corvallis, Norma worked as a secretary for five years at Western View Middle School and five years at Jefferson Elementary School, retiring in January 1991. In retirement, she traveled extensively with Gene, volunteered at the OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop, and was active in BP Chapter of P.E.O. Norma was preceded in death by her husband and her brother, Louis Ray Wilson. She is survived by her siblings James Wilson, David Wilson, Eleanor Ruedeman and Ruth Angell; daughters, Gina Huey of Corvallis, Lori Craven Krause of Raleigh, North Carolina, Cinda Craven of Santa Rosa, California and grandchildren Jeffery and Corrine Krause. Thank you to the Corvallis Caring Place for the wonderful care and love given to our mother over the last three years. Memorials in Norma's name can be made to the National Parkinson's Foundation or to a charity of your choice. A celebration of life for both Norma and Gene will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 23 in the Martha Room of the Corvallis First United Methodist Church.

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Norma Craven

September 29, 1932 - August 11, 2017