Norma Darlene (Shipman) Pickett

Norma Darlene (Shipman) Pickett, age 89, passed away at her home in Houston, Texas on April 5, 2021. Norma was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 31, 1931. She was preceded in death by her mother Dora Sears Shipman, father Leonard Leon Shipman, sister Mary Shipman Majors, brother Vern Dale Shipman, and her husband, the love of her life for 64 years, James (Jim) Pickett, Jr.

Norma lived a remarkable life of service to others and for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Growing up in the small farming community of Watonga, Oklahoma, she graduated from Watonga High School as part of the class of 1949. Norma held various jobs in her life, including working at a TV station and as a church and corporate secretary. But when she married Jim in 1950, she took on her most important job—being a mother to her three children and a devoted wife.

In 1962, Norma and Jim moved to Houston, where they became faithful members of Westheimer Baptist Church and later Houston’s First Baptist Church. Norma never hesitated to serve her church and her community, from teaching Sunday School to serving as her church’s Missions Director to volunteering at the International Students Department at the University of Houston to becoming Director of the International Student Friendship Family Program at First Baptist Church. Starting in the 1970s, Jim and Norma worked tirelessly to help countless families immigrate and settle in the United States from Cambodia after the fall of Cambodia to communism. Her prayer and deepest desire was to see Cambodians come to experience healing from their past and future blessing through a relationship with Jesus. Through their ministry, Jim and Norma developed lifelong friends from across the world.

One of Norma’s other great joys in life was her love of nature and animals. Neighbors often brought injured or orphaned animals to Norma for care—raccoons, squirrels, opossums, owls, rabbits, and skunks, among many other animals. Her pride in nursing animals back to health and her delight in seeing them scamper about inspired generations of animal lovers in the family.

Those who knew Norma for even a minute saw her deep and enduring faith in God and felt her passion to share with others the blessings of knowing Jesus Christ. There is nothing she wanted more in life than to see her friends and family come to know the Christ she knew and loved so well. She was the picture of Christian charity and sacrifice. She was happy to help anyone in need and was known to patiently assist newcomers to the US with many challenges that they encountered such as navigating school enrollment for their children, learning to drive, going to doctors, applying for jobs and finding housing.

Norma was also a gracious host and her hospitality extended to any who needed a welcoming place to stay. She greatly enjoyed hosting large gatherings of international friends and family, especially during the holidays. She never wanted anyone to feel alone or left out, so all friends were welcome. She spent countless hours in preparation for these special times, which created many cherished memories for all who attended.

Norma was known for her sharp wit, infectious and easy laugh, keen business sense, and ability to tell a story that would captivate a room. Norma had the amazing ability to recall various poems, hymns, and Bible verses that she had memorized throughout her life and would recite them at the drop of a hat. She also had the rare quality of laughing at herself for predicaments she got herself into. She held her beliefs strongly and refused to sacrifice her principles on the altar of convenience. She was an ardent patriot, loving her country and community and never missing an opportunity to vote—or telling you how you should vote. Norma always had the right words for the right moment: she gave comfort to the downtrodden and much-needed truth to the wayward. Norma unhesitatingly provided an open home and a listening ear. She thought little of her own needs, but much of other’s. She was a confidant and a friend to all she encountered and is beloved by all who were blessed to know her.

Norma leaves behind three children to cherish her memory: son Jim with his wife Claire, son Tom with his wife Janet, and daughter Kathy with her husband Howard. Norma also leaves behind nine loving grandchildren whom she doted on: Melissa Pickett Kratz with her husband Dave, Emily Pickett Jackson with her husband Louis, Rebekah Pickett Forbes with her husband Nathan, Bethany Pickett, Hannah Pickett, Reese Pickett with his wife Zaria, Elizabeth Kelly, Gracie Kelly, and Jamie Kelly. Norma lived to welcome the birth of eight precious great-grandchildren: Kaden Jackson, Kinsley Jackson, Karson Jackson, Piper Forbes, Clara Forbes, Noah Forbes, Rylie Pickett, and Daniel Kratz. Norma is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Schmidt Funeral Home, 1344 W. Grand Parkway South, Katy, Texas on April 12, 2021. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. with services to follow at 1:30 p.m. Interment will be at the I.O.O.F Cemetery in Watonga, Oklahoma at 11:30 a.m. on April 17, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Norma Pickett may be given to International Student Ministry Assistance, Inc. (ISMA, 1779 N. Princeton Way, Eagle, ID 83616); First Cambodian Baptist Church of Aldine (c/o 14923 Croftwood Drive, Houston, Texas 77068); Hope for Cambodia (https://www.hopeforcambodia.com/donate/); or Jerusalem Prayer Team (https://www.jerusalemprayerteam.org).

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

Psalm 116:15

Funeral services held under the direction of Schmidt Funeral Home