Norma Jo Gaskins, 88, passed away on Oct. 28, 2023, at Windy Hill Assisted Living in Kingwood. Norma was born in Morgantown, on March 31, 1935.
She was Roman Catholic by faith and was a member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and later, St. John’s University Parish in Morgantown which she has attended from 1952 to the present.
Norma attended Morgantown High School and graduated in 1952, then attended West Virginia University where she graduated in 1956 with an AB degree in home economics with a minor in Spanish. During this time, she taught dancing at the Virginia School of Dance in Morgantown and Kingwood, and performed at the Cheat Lake Supper Club at a time when Patti Page was the featured singer.
On June 2, 1956, Norma married Lt. Avery F. Gaskins and joined him at his post at Fort Knox, Ky., until 1957 when his commitment was fulfilled. Then the couple moved to Pittsburgh. While there, she worked for a year at Commonwealth Trust Company of Pittsburgh in the bookkeeping department. After returning to Morgantown, Norma worked for 33 years as the office manager in the dental office of Doctor Hubert Martin and Doctor Chris Martin.
After her mother passed away, Norma took over as owner and manager of her mother’s Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio on High Street. She worked there for ten years until her retirement in 2001. Norma’s favorite past time was cooking, which she put to good use for 18 years as a volunteer for the monthly spaghetti dinner sponsored by St. John’s Parish. She also won prizes in cooking contests sponsored by The Dominion Post in 1982, 1985, and 1986, two of which were firsts.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Avery “Bud” F. Gaskins; her parents, Albert “Ike” and Teresa (Scudiere) Ezze; her sister, Sandra (Ezze) Lewellen; and leaves to mourn her brother-in-law, Ronald L. Lewellen; nephew, Ronald C. Lewellen (Irene O’Connell), niece Lynn (Lewellen) Hobbs (Roy), great-nieces and great-nephew, Monica S. Lewellen, Elizabeth S. Lewellen (Nathan Kloos), William B. Hobbs, Gillian L. Hobbs, great-grandniece, Dakota J. Kloos, great-grandnephew, Conor J. Kloos; and many cherished family and friends.
Norma will be remembered for her generous spirit, optimistic outlook, her love of salad and pasta, and all things sparkly. She followed the Pirates, Steelers, and loved her Mountaineers. She and Bud were Mountaineer football season ticket holders for many years. She loved to collect recipes and entertain. She and Bud hosted many parties and family holidays, and she dearly loved her dogs Cognac and Princess.
Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10. Visitation will continue on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Brian J. Crenwelge officiating. Interment will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens. A luncheon will be held for family and friends at Oliverio’s Restaurant at 1 p.m. following the cemetery.
The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Morgantown Christian Help, 219 Walnut Street, Morgantown, WV 26505 or the Monongalia County Canine Adoption Center, 106 Lockside Road, Westover, WV 26501.
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