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Feb. 1, 1939 — May 11, 2020

Norma Joan Stakley, 81, of Benton Harbor, passed away on May 11, 2020.

She was born on Feb. 1, 1939, in Dowagiac, to Norma and Archibald Huston.

In addition to raising her two sons, Norma worked at Michigan Fruit Canners in Coloma and retired from Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor.

Norma and her husband, David, also sold tickets to athletic events at St. Joseph Schools. Her favorite part of selling tickets was seeing and talking to people that she knew. When her sons were in school, Norma volunteered as a classroom aide at Benton Harbor Area Schools.

Norma enjoyed knitting, reading, going out to eat and spending time with her friends and family. One of her favorite pastimes was family cookouts. She loved being around family, laughing and just being together.

In her younger years, Norma enjoyed cooking and hosting all of the family meals at her house. She passed on some of her favorite recipes, which her family will continue to make and share for generations.

One of her most recent pastimes included arguing with their beagle/basset puppy, Haru Inu, who they rescued as a little puppy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Norma and Archibald Huston; her step-father, Charles Fenner; and her sister, Kathy Brown.

Norma is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, David Dick Stakley; her children, David Stakley and Steven (Deedee) Stakley; grandchildren, Tony (Ashlei) Jones, Ashley (Chad Baldwin) Layne, Clayton (Rose Bartels) Stakley and Ricky (Harmony Toi Kondo) Jewell.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Holly, Ivie and Jesse Jones, Gabriella, Nathan and Madelyn Layne, Nichole, Chad Jr., Emy and Prestin Baldwin and Umi Toi Kondo.

As her family grew, Norma loved her husband, her sons, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren more than anything else. Spending time with family was truly, her favorite pastime.

A private graveside service will be at Lakeshore Hagar Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest. Memorial donations may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation or the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan.

Arrangements have been entrusted with Duffield and Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma. Online guestbook available at duffieldpastrick.com.