Norma Jean Braden.....Age 84

Visitation: 6-8 pm August 30, 2015
at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home

Service: 11 am August 31, 2015
at the Green Valley Baptist Church of Osawatomie,KS

Burial at Osawatomie Cemetery

Memorial: Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation

Memorials may be sent in care of:
Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
P.O. Box 430
Osawatomie, KS 66064

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Norma Jean Braden age 84, of Osawatomie, Kansas died Thursday, August 27, 2015 at the Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kansas.

Norma was born the second of seven children on October 11, 1930 in Corning, Kansas to Ellsworth Amos and Josie Alzada (Gallion) Tietz.

She grew up in Texas and graduated from Borger, Texas High School in 1948. She met her future husband at school and they dated for two years while attending school. On February 23, 1949 at her parents home in Borger, Norma Jean married W.R. (Bill) Braden. The young couple made their home in Borger and became the parents of three daughters: Rhonda, Pamela and Lori. They remained in Borger for almost twenty years, then Bill transferred with Phillips Pipeline and they moved to Kansas in 1968 to settle in Osawatomie.

After moving to Osawatomie Norma went to work for a short time at the Mode-O-Day dress shop, but she was mainly a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was a fabulous seamstress and made all the clothing for her three girls, as well as some for her grandchildren.

She enjoyed collecting antiques, dishes and furniture were her favorite. Norma was an outstanding decorator and her home was beautiful inside and out. Her yard was landscaped with many beautiful flowers due to her diligent gardening. She was known locally year round for her holiday displays. Her home was one of the most beautiful of the season every year and many community members would make a special drive out to see their home.

Norma liked to bowl when she was younger and was on a bowling league for a few years. She was an amazing cook, so family and friends were always happy to enjoy any of her meals. She and Bill hosted an annual Wiener Roast for about fifteen years in the fall that everyone looked forward too. She was a researcher of family history and became an expert in the area of genealogy. Having one of the largest collections of family information anyone has ever seen. But her most favorite thing was to watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play sports. She traveled across the United States to watch them play and even traveled internationally to attend soccer games, this was one of her biggest passions. She was a proud and loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was a very Christian woman and was a member of the Green Valley Baptist Church for years as well as the Green Valley Social Club.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, son-in-law David Nelson in 1998 and grandson Brian Nelson in 1999 and three brothers: Ellsworth A. Tietz Jr., Earl Wayne Tietz and Bobby Tietz.

Survivors include her husband of sixty-six years Bill of the home, daughters: Rhonda Nelson of Olathe, KS, Pamela (Rob) Stifter of Parker, KS and Lori (Rob) Bristow of Olathe, KS. One brother Kenneth Tietz of Ft. Stockton, TX and two sisters: Peggy Reece of Bakersfield, CA and Velma Lawson of Borger, TX. Six grandchildren: Monty Bishop, Michael Bishop, Karie Bishop, Lexie (Bristow) Murphy and Trey Bristow and five great grandchildren: Braden, Brendon, Brilynn, Brandon and Malachi along with many other family members and friends.