Norma M. Stafford Obituary
Norma Mae "Curly" Stafford died in Kalamazoo, Michigan on June 12, 2024 at the age of 96.
Norma is survived by her nephew Wade Stafford McCartney (Althea) and their children, Jasmine, Steven (Michelle), Samuel (McKenzie) and Juliette Mosley (Kaj). Cousins Louis Benjamin Goodsell (Harriett) and their children Charles and Susan and cousins Rebecca Goodsell and Michael Clements. And many, many good friends, including Linda Law.
Norma was born on May 17, 1928, in Niles, Michigan to William Irving Stafford and Julia Ellen Miars. She was one of two children and was preceded in death by her parents and sister Elayne Gayl Stafford McCartney (William O. McCartney).
Norma was born and raised in Niles, Michigan and grew up on the family farm where they raised corn, soybeans, dairy and asparagus. Niles, Michigan is located 15 miles north of the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Norma attended a one-room country schoolhouse from kindergarten through 8th grade, walking about two miles to and from school. Like her sister, Norma's favorite activities were softball and recess at noon. Norma was active in the local Morris Chapel Methodist Church. While attending Niles High School in town five miles from home, she also played softball during recess or during PE class, since there was no school softball team. As senior in high school, Norma was named "Good Citizen of the Year" by the Fort St. Joseph Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. According to the local news article, Norma was an above average student, active in girls' athletics, president of the Girls' Leaders Club, and was taking college prep courses. She was selected based on scholarship, citizenship, patriotism, activity, and leadership.
In 1946, Norma graduated from Niles High School and that Fall she enrolled in Michigan State University (MSU). And for 20 summers, while attending college (and after), Norma directed land sports and waterfront activities at private girl's camps Robinhood, Whispering Pines, and Burr Oaks in Wisconsin, and Racquette Lake Girls Club in upstate New York.
In 1950, Norma graduated from MSU in Lansing, Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in Mathematics and Biological Science. Upon graduation, she taught Physical Education, General Science, and coached cheerleaders for 3-years at Howell High School in Howell, Michigan (Sept 1950 – June 1953). Norma went back to MSU as a graduate assistant and earned a Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance, Child Growth and Development (1956), and stayed on to teach, mainly swimming, while coaching swimming and synchronized swimming. In 1963, Norma journeyed to the University of Southern California (USC) as a graduate assistant and contemplated a doctorate for a year but favored teaching and coaching over administration and research. In 1964, she went back for another year of teaching at MSU. Aside from the breaks, Norma served as an MSU Assistant Professor of Physical Education and Women's Swimming Coach (Sept 1953 – June 1966). During 1966-1967, Norma spent a year with a friend in business running Camps All-American and working for the U.S. Cheerleaders Association.
In 1967, Norma was invited to the University of Michigan for an interview, but she just didn't like the atmosphere, and her green Spartan blood wouldn't have it! She then came to the attention of Western Michigan University (WMU) and was quickly hired as an assistant professor of physical education. In 1974, she was awarded associate professor status, and associate professor emerita in 1990. According to the Fran Ebert book, "Lady Broncos – Women's Intercollegiate Athletics, WMU (2003), "Norma began the speed swimming and diving programs in 1968-69.". The book notes that aside from the 1923-1924 school year, it was not until Norma brought women's swimming and diving back to WMU in 1968. She coached the women's swimming and diving team from 1968-1972 and again from 1973-1977. From 1968-1979, Norma was also the head coach of the WMU women's synchronized swimming team. During the 1977-78 season, Norma guided her Bronco synchronized swimming team to an eighth-place finish in the national championships at Oberlin College. In addition to her regular coaching duties, Norma served as faculty advisor to the annual WMU Aqua Sprites synchronized water show. As the aquatics specialist in the Department of Human Performance and Health Education (HPHE) at WMU, Norma provided excellent instruction for hundreds of young people in aquatics classes at all levels, [including lifesaving and lifeguard certification]. Her high standards and dedication to the aquatics area was respected by her colleagues and students alike" (The Faculty Recognition Dinner, WMU, June 1, 1990, p.48).
Norma was an active member of many professional, academic, and community associations, including the American and Midwest Alliances for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Delta Psi Kappa; the American Swimming Coaches Association; the American Diving Association; the Michigan and United States Racquetball Associations; the Red Cross Swimming and First Aid group; the Morris Chapel Memorial and Cemetery Committee, and on the publicity committee of the Eagle Lake Texas Association.
In addition, in her spare time, Norma worked part-time as a Tax Preparer and later a Senior Tax Advisor for H&R Block for 31 years (Jan 1980 – Apr 2011). She started working for H&R Block before they even had computers, filling out individual tax returns on paper forms! She always liked numbers and with her minor in Mathematics, she was a natural. Norma enjoyed helping people and worked hard to get the best return for her clients. As a result, she had many return clients and made many friends.
In January 1990, Norma retired and enjoyed traveling to many US states and Canada, including Alaska, California and Florida, along with states in between in her Karmann Ghia with a tent, a small Toyota pickup with a camper shell, and later in a Toyota Chinook Mini Motorhome – she loved it! She also made two trips to London and central Europe, one of which to Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, and later to Hawaii. On another trip with three friends, they spent two weeks on a bus tour around Ireland, rented a cabin cruiser boat on the River Shannon for a week and a cottage on the west coast for the last week! She also traveled to northern Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia, as well as to Greece, the Greek Islands, Turkey, Czechoslovakia, Australia, New Zealand, Bali, and Indonesia with family and friends. When back in her native element in and around Michigan, Norma loved convertibles and owned many, including several red Volkswagen Karmann Ghia's (1971, 1974), along with several Toyota Solara's (2002, 2005). She learned to drive in the family car, a Ford Model A (1928). She owned and drove many other cars from the 1940s, 50s, 60s and beyond. Norma was also an avid golfer and longtime member and golf league player at Grand Prairie Golf Course in Kalamazoo. Norma was also very patriotic and loved the 4th of July, in particular, and wore many red, white, and blue outfits and hats, and she loved singing and listening to patriotic songs like, The Star-Spangled Banner, This Land Is Your Land, and God Bless America!
Norma developed many lifelong friendships, a number of whom she met while at MSU. In particular, she met Lois Youngen in 1954 while both were working on master's degrees in physical education. Lois is a former catcher and outfielder who played (1951-1954) in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1960, Youngen joined the University of Oregon and later became an emeritus professor. Lois and Norma became friends and roommates at MSU, and stayed in touch for life, calling each other regularly and exchanging humorous cards and letters over the years.
Norma loved encouraging youth to be the best they could be. As such, she was quietly passionate about The Danforth Foundation, which was originally established, in part, to promote the well-being of mankind with the goal of helping people be their "very best, all the time.". William Danforth grew up suffering from ill health, and one day, a teacher dared him to become the healthiest boy in his class, and he took the challenge and never looked back. His book, "I Dare You," describes how to live "a four square" life balancing the physical, mental, social and spiritual, and to "Stand Tall, Think Tall, Smile Tall, and Live Tall.". Norma received her own personal copy of the "I Dare You" book as a gift on her birthday 1946, and a month before her death, she directed her nephew Wade to make sure three specific youth received copies, along with a generous gift tucked in between the pages. Over the years, she purchased many copies of the "I Dare You" book to give as gifts to many youth graduating high school or entering college and challenged them to do the same, and often tucked away in the book was a generous $20, $50, or $100 bill. Norma was a giving person in many ways and strove to live a four-square life herself. She will be missed, but fondly remembered.
There will be a 'Celebration of Life' Gathering for Norma with friends and family in August 2024 which will be updated here in July with more specific information.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Westwood Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006 or online, https://www.westwood-umc.org Messages of condolence and remembrances, or just to reaching out, may be sent to either Linda Law at [email protected] or 269-250-0750, or Wade McCartney at [email protected] or 916-934-8980.
