Obituary of Norma Louise McDermott

Norma Louise (French) McDermott of Colorado Springs, Colorado, formerly of Norwood, Colorado, passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at The Cheyenne Mountain Care Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In her final days, she was surrounded by family and friends. 

Norma was born at home on November 22, 1935 in Norwood, Colorado. The daughter of Louis “Duke” and Florence French, she spent her youth working at her father’s general store and assisting her mother, a teacher, in the local one-room schoolhouse. She was an avid seamstress, piano player, and a school cheerleader. She graduated from Norwood High School in 1953. In 1955, Norma earned an associate's degree in business from Parks Business College in Denver, Colorado. On May 30, 1956, Norma married the love of her life Andrew “Andy” McDermott.

Following their marriage, Norma and Andy moved around the country for work and higher education, finally settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado to raise their family. Norma and Andy welcomed their daughter, Cheryl in 1956, followed by Craig in 1961, and Scott in 1969. A devoted homemaker, Norma took great pride in running her home, and feeding and nurturing her family. 

Norma had a lifelong belief in the importance of education, and as her children grew, she enthusiastically spent her time and energy helping special needs students at Pikes Peak Elementary School. 

In her later years, Norma became a dedicated quilter and was very involved with “Quilts from The Heart”, a local organization that provides quilts to children in hospitals. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren. Her grandchildren remember countless hours of playing pretend, coloring, baking her specialty - Texas chocolate cake, visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and local Children’s Museum, and attending plays and productions.

Norma is survived by her beloved husband of sixty-six years, Andy McDermott; her three children, Cheryl (Steven) McDermott-Hall of Otter Rock, Oregon, Craig (Sally) McDermott of Black Forest, Colorado, and Scott McDermott of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Norma was blessed with four grandchildren, Jeremy Haley, Amy Gee, Jennifer (Brandon) Clark and Andee McDermott; six great-grandchildren, Julian (Ariel) Martinez, Kaiden Gee, Karter Gee, Rye Clark, Georgia Clark, and Aiden Haley; and two great-great-grandchildren, Abryana and Alana Martinez. 

She was preceded in death by her mother, Florence French; her father, Louis French; her older brother, Leslie French; and her grandson, Jeremy Haley. She will be missed.

Celebration of Life, May 21, 2023, time and place to be determined. 

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