Ruby Self Norman

Hartselle Ruby Norman, 98, passed away at home March 25, 2025. The dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty, Miss Ruby Lee Self, met and married William Dillard Norman (Bill), in Cullman, when the world was at war. They created for themselves a full life together raising eight children; and wrangling and loving a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren while enjoying all this earth’s bounty. Her life’s work included a career in nursing, but she and Bill took great pleasure in gardening, travel, hiking, pets, kids, friends of kids, friends of pets, and strays-human and otherwise-that wandered into their orbit and were embraced and loved. She was instrumental in helping organize the North Alabama Chapter of the National Audubon Society and was president of that organization for many years. She created a prayer shawl ministry at her church in which she stayed active until her health no longer allowed. Hers was a life fully lived. Ruby is survived by seven of her eight children: Carolyn DeJonker of Hartselle; Deborah Norman, surviving wife of our brother, Tommy Norman, of Hartselle; Julia McLean of Hoover; Kathryn McGinley (Tom) of Nashville; Rebecca Norman (Jack Ginay) of Chicago; Lee Ann Cocke (James) of Tampa; Elisabeth Gardner (Paul) of Prattville; and Guy Norman (Shelia) of Hartselle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her son, Tommy Norman; her son-in-law, Bob DeJonker, and by more family and friends than one heart could bear. A graveside service was held with Bro. Bobby Ray Halbrooks officiating. She was interred next to Bill in Hartselle City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to local animal shelters or to Hospice of the Valley, Decatur, without whose care we could not have borne this loss.