Norma Jean Richmond Bennett passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, in Prescott. A graveside service was held Jan. 9 in Wickenburg. A celebration of her life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, at The Windmill House, 1460 West Road North in Chino Valley. She was born Jan. 9, 1940, in Phoenix to Anna Younger Richmond and Louis Everett Richmond. She was a Winslow High School graduate, and a hairdresser at June DeMille’s Beauty Salon. Wife, mother, business woman, friend…Norma lived her life on her own terms. For those who have known her, how do you define a life lived to its fullest, reached to its highest, achieved to its greatest, stretched to its limit, tackled on new terms and conquered? She was undeterred by the many boundaries and rules that existed for women in the business field. She was a woman who would, could and did break, bend, tame the obstacles in her way with laughter, kindness, love, a wicked sense of humor, talent extraordinaire and an intelligence that was brilliant. Norma dared to tread where many women didn’t know existed, let alone go, conquer, define. She was exceedingly proud of her fourth generation Arizonian heritage. She was a trailblazer; a woman with a true Arizona pioneer spirit; an inspiration, fighter, champion for the underdog, guardian of the gentle, protector of her community, listener, carer. She was fearless, brave, funny. Missed is an understatement. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; her mother Anna and dad Louis; her brothers, Buddy and Alan (Scotty); her sister, JoAnn Derksen; and her brother-in-law, Ray Derksen. Survivors include her daughter Dana and son Michael; her nieces, Ty, Joy, Patty, Shari, Amy and Anne; her nephews, Michael, Justin, Adam and Andy; her sisters-in-law, Ramona and Judy; her grand nephews, Raymond, Richmond, Melvin, Billy, Bo, David, Chris, Justin and Tyler; and her grand nieces, Anna and Rilee. In lien of flowers please make a donation to the school of your choice and Del Rio Elementary School needs hard bound children’s literature books.
