Norma G. Payne

Norma Payne, of Kingsville, Texas, passed from this life surrounded by her family on February 21, 2025, at the age of 87. Norma was born on May 26, 1937, in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Lee and Aileen Henry. The Henry family moved to Kingsville in the early 1940s. Norma attended Lamar Elementary School and graduated from H.M. King High School in 1955. 

Norma met her first husband, Arvis Powell, while attending Texas A&I University and married him in 1955. They were a military family and made their home in several places such as Alabama and France where two of their children were born. They settled in El Paso, Texas where they lived for many years. 

Norma’s calling was to help others. She graduated from Hotel Dieu School of Nursing in El Paso, Texas in 1972. Her first job as a registered nurse was in the Neonatal ICU at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso. When she moved back to Kingsville in 1978, she began working at the former Kingsville Memorial Hospital in the ICU and watched the hospital grow over several years. She spent many years taking care of critically ill patients and eventually became the Director of the ICU. Even after her retirement in the early 2000s, she worked at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in the Neonatal ICU part time. Caring for others flowed into her everyday life. She was always willing to offer advice to those who needed her. She loved being a nurse and was one of the best. 

Norma married her high school sweetheart, Bobby Payne, in 1978 in Kingsville. She and Bobby were married for 43 years. 

Norma loved music and was an amazing piano player. She also spent much of her time making afghans for others. She would work for hours on making special afghans for baby showers, graduations, birthdays, and weddings. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Payne; infant son, Quinten Powell; granddaughter, KateLynn Powell; parents; and brother, Dr. Raymond Henry.

She is survived by her daughters, Danielle (John) Miller of Kingsville and Rachelle (Buddy) Brandt of San Angelo; sons, Darron (Carole) Powell of El Paso, Brett (Griselda) Powell of Corpus Christi, Shannon (Mandy) Powell of Riviera, and Todd Powell of Nacogdoches; stepdaughter, Cheryl Gray, of Groesbeck; grandchildren, Renee Minjarez, Rita Minjarez, Oriel Powell, Orion Powell, Lacy Powell, Ciana Powell, Aero Powell, Nicole Bieze, Landin Powell, Jaden Powell, Bryson Goldman, Taylor Goldman, and Brayden Goldman; six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her best friend of 46 years, Cecilia Sears; one can only be so lucky to have had such a beautiful friendship. 

A special thank you to the incredible hospice nurses at Nurses on Wheels and the fantastic staff at Kingsville Nursing and Rehab. Norma spent almost 4 years in the nursing home where she touched many lives and there is no doubt that those lives touched her. We are forever thankful for your care and compassion.

Norma’s beautiful smile and spicy personality will be greatly missed. 

The family will receive condolences at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary; with a graveside service to follow at Chamberlain Cemetery.