Norma Sullivan Futrell

A celebration of life and home going service for Norma Sullivan Futrell, of Newark, will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home with Pastor Rusty Foley and family members officiating. Burial will follow at Smith Chapel Cemetery. Norma Sullivan Futrell, born to John Presley and Lula Sullivan on July 21st, 1918, in Parsons, Tennessee, entered eternity with her Lord and Savior Jesus on April 11, 2014 after an earthly journey of 95 years. She shared her childhood with her father, mother, an older sister Nola, two older brothers, Delton and Delmar; and with them survived the deaths of two infant siblings. Norma lived through many world and personal hardships, but through the Holy Spirits tender guidance became a women of strong faith. She developed and followed a creed of perseverance and hard work. She enjoyed sewing and quilting and often made her eight young daughters clothing. Her quilts, stitched with love, have brought warmth and comfort to friends and family. Even though gardening was for many years a necessity for her, she never lost her joy in seeing things grow and had a special love for roses. She took pride in taking small broken parts of a plant, then replanting and nurturing it into a once again thriving plant. She herself was a southerner transplanted into northern soil. After moving to Newark in 1956 she worked at Licking Memorial hospital on Everett Avenue in the house keeping department. For many years she was an active member of Waters Edge Assembly of God until poor health kept her from attending. She truly had a servants care-giving heart and was cooking food to give away or share with her neighbors in Terrace Garden Apartments until failing health made it necessary for her to move to Autumn Health Care Facility. She first married at age 16 to Walter Roberts, and later was married to James L. Merrill and Daniel Futrell, all of which preceded her in death. She is now reunited with other loved ones gone before her; her parents and siblings; two daughters, Tina Futrell and Linda Friedley; two-grandsons, Jeff Jalk and Patrick Futrell; Son-in- law, Rick Jalk; a very special friend, Larry Carmen; and many other friends. She leaves behind daughters Mary Jalk, Louise (Howard) Conners, Geanie Roberts, Barb (Larry) Griffith, Retha Fisher, and Brenda (Brady) Kreider, 30 grand-children, 61 great grand-children, 35 great-great grand children; and one great great great granddaughter.Friends may call at the funeral home, 179 Granville Street, Newark on Tuesday from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for the Futrell family.