Winnie Ruth Norsworthy (Busby)

Winnie Norsworthy, 94, of Farmington, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2011, in Farmington. She was born July 15, 1916, in Waynesboro, Miss., the daughter of Judge Arthur Busby and Winnie George Busby. Rejoicing at her arrival in Heaven are her parents; her beloved husband of 63, years, Olyer Norsworthy; her two brothers, Arthur and Paul; her granddaughter, Kelly Stagen; and her grandmother, "Ma Walker."
She is survived by her brother, Howard Busby of Laurel, Miss. Also surviving are two daughters, Lynn Brumbaugh and husband, Don, of Farmington, and Sheila Brunty and husband, Joe, of Tempe, Ariz.; grandchildren, Tim Brunty of Mesa, Ariz., Devin Brice and husband, Norman, of Glendale, Ariz., and Neil Stagen and wife, Jennifer, of Albuquerque; great-grandchildren, Ashley Standifer, Tyler Standifer, Allen Smith, Nicole Kempster, Kylan Kempster, Katherine Brunty, Emma Rose Stagen and Joshua Stagen; great-great-grandchildren, Kayla, Chayce, Joey, Iris, Bailey, Kayden and Caytelynn. Winnie is also survived by her close friend, Liz Lee; and family friend, Jesse Vann.
Winnie was a genteel Southern lady complete with Southern charm and accent - a real "steel magnolia." She was educated in the Waynesboro public school and the University of Mississippi. While in secondary school, she and her future husband were active in the town orchestra in Waynesboro. Winnie played the cello and bass violin, while Olyer played the clarinet and violin.
Winnie and Olyer were married in 1939 in her family's living room while the song, "I Love You Truly" was played on the radio.
Before her daughters were born, Winnie was a high school teacher of mathematics and history, as well as being a girls' basketball coach. She remembered that some families would choose for their daughters to play ball in dresses rather than the traditional uniform. In 1952, the family moved to Illinois. Winnie had never traveled away from the South and she thought she was leaving the country. When she got there she was SURE she'd left the country. After 20 years in Illinois, the family was transferred to Norman, Okla., and Winnie felt more at home there. She reclaimed her athletic ability and played golf with her husband regularly (and he always said she was much better than he was.) After 21 years in Oklahoma, the couple moved to Farmington in 1992, and soon joined Emmanuel Baptist Church. Winnie enjoyed crocheting, knitting and other handiwork and playing the piano and organ. She loved eating lunch at the Bonnie Dallas Senior Center with her friends. But there's nothing she enjoyed more that watching Ole Miss or OU football games. While living in Norman, she and her husband attended EVERY SINGLE OU home game. Visitation for Mrs. Norsworthy will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 211 W. 20th St. in Farmington. Wendell Hendricks will officiate. Pallbearers are Tim Brunty, Neil Stagen, Tyler Standifer, Russ McNealy, Allen Smith and David Standifer. Contributions may be made to the Bonnie Dallas Senior Center, 109 La Plata St., or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home
103 E. Ute Street
Farmington, New Mexico
(505)325-8688