Norma Jean Kern, 91, of Hutchinson, passed away April 6, 2018. She was born April 26, 1926, in Cherokee, Oklahoma, the daughter of Clement and Hilda (Hebel) Ford.

She graduated from St. Teresa High School in 1943. Her memberships included: Holy Cross Altar Society, St. Cecilia Circle, PEO HP Chapter, Harvest House, and Youth Friends - volunteering at Wiley Elementary School with the 'Read with Me' program. Norma loved reading to the small children. She worked as a homemaker, with the ultimate multi-tasking and never-ending job of being a mom and wife raising seven children.
On June 12, 1943, she married Raymond George Kern at St. Teresa Catholic Church. It was a happy marriage of 66 years until Raymond's death May 28, 2009.

She is survived by: her children, Jerry (Nance) of Mason, OH, Barbara Pearson (J. R.) of Grove, OK, Linda Swank of Lawrence, Pat Banker ( Sam) of Ozawkie, Ron of Hutchinson, Mary Beth Hartwell of Austin, TX, and Connie Kimpler (Robert) of Wichita; sisters, Ruth Ann Spitzer (Dr. Jerry), Kathy Young ( Dr. Larry); sister-in-law, Debbie Ford, all of Hutchinson; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; six nieces; and 11 nephews. Norma was preceded in death by: her parents; beloved husband, Raymond; brother, Ben Ford; sister, Mary Louise Ford; and the many family and friends she had been missing.

Parish Rosary will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at Church of the Holy Cross, 2631 Independence Rd., Hutchinson, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., with Father Bob Pinninti officiating. Private inurnment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may sign her memorial book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, Hutchinson. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Jude Children's Cancer Research Hospital or Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.