Norma Jean (Sinclair) Edwards, 88, passed away peacefully at Kavanagh House Hospice in Des Moines, on Friday, December 1, 2023.   Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with burial following in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery.  Visitation will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 6 at Overton Funeral Home.

Norma was born in Centerville, Iowa, on October 14, 1935, to Russell Clinton and Olive Mae (Story) Sinclair.  Norma was the oldest of 7 children born to Russell and Olive. Her family would eventually settle in Summerset, Iowa.

While living in Summerset, at the age of 17, Norma met her future husband, Delbert LeRoy Edwards.  They were married soon after, on May 11, 1953.  Together, Norma and Delbert would bring eight children into the world - LeRoy, Connie, Alan, Gary, Tina, Terri, Aaron and Scott. Their hearts were broken when they lost their daughter, Terri, at just 10 months of age.

After her youngest son, Scott, started school, Norma entered the workforce.  She spent over 25 years of her life working first as a CNA at Blank Children's Hospital, and then as an instrument tech at Methodist Hospital.  After retirement, she spent a short time working at Carlisle Care Center, and then at the Hy-Vee kitchen in Indianola.

After retirement, she also had the opportunity to do a little traveling with friends and family.  Another of her pastimes was playing the penny slots at Prairie Meadows. One of her favorite traveling partners was Bob Jones.  They had a meal at just about every small-town cafe in Iowa.  Frequently, they would be accompanied by a grandchild or two.  After a stroke in 2017 left her unable to drive, her greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Norma loved many and was loved by many. Those left to honor her memory are her seven surviving children: LeRoy (Vicki) Edwards; Connie Edwards; Alan Edwards; Gary Edwards; Tina (Dan) Benshoof; Aaron (Donna) Edwards; Scott (Teressa) Edwards; her 17 grandchildren and her 26 great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Debbie Sinclair;  her brother Jake (Cheryl) Sinclair; and her sister Colleen Dill.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband of 29 years, Delbert Edwards; their daughter, Terri Edwards; daughter-in-law, Nancy Edwards; grandson, Aaron Jacob Edwards; her parents, Russell and Olive Sinclair; brother, Howard Sinclair; brother, Russell Sinclair; sister, Arlene Edwards; sister, Gloria Fridley; and longtime companion, Bob Jones.  To sign on online condolence, visit our website at www.overtonfunerals.com.