Patricia Van Norman, 1931-2020

Patricia Ann Van Norman was born March 16, 1931, in Three Rivers, MI; and she went home to glory to rest in our Lord on June 16, 2020.

Patricia was the youngest of three children born to William and Verna Cook. Shortly after she graduated from high school, the family moved to Winter Park, Florida in 1955.

She met a young service man who lived across the street from their Winter Park home named Gordon Van Norman. After a 3-month courtship, the couple married on June 3, 1956. They opened their hearts to two children, Laurie and Scott.

Out of high school, Patricia worked in the insurance agency business but the career she enjoyed the most was as Executive Assistant to the Pastor in their church, First Baptist Church of Union Park (now Grace Journey Community Church), in Orlando. She worked there from 1971 to 1994 when she retired.

Patricia and Gordon were very active in their church. They attended Grace Journey Community Church in Orlando for more than 40 years; and, when they moved to Lake Wales in 2017, they became members of Lake Pierce Baptist Church.

The couple did everything together and enjoyed vacationing in different areas of the country after they retired. They fished together, went to the car races together, loved to go to yard sales, and ministered to others together. Patricia was an avid reader and, even after the total loss of her eyesight, she continued to listen to books on tape.

Patricia is survived by her daughter, Laurie (husband, Andrew). She has two grandsons, Lee Railey (fiancée, Jessica) and Drew Youngman. She has one great grandson, Louie Van Allen Railey. Patricia is also survived by her nephews Steve Cook (wife, Cheryl) and Jerry Cook (wife, Linda).

Patricia loved the Lord and her family and used every opportunity to talk about them to everyone. She was an inspiration to anyone who knew her. We will miss the love you shared, your laughter and wit, but we know that the empty space in our hearts will be filled when we see you again. We love you very much!

Visitation will be from 1p.m. Friday, June 19 until service time at 2 p.m. at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for donations to be made to the Florida Baptist Children's Home.