Norma Jean Cowden Blackford, 89, of Madison, Indiana, entered this life Jan. 13, 1930, at Jasonville, Indiana. She was the loving daughter of the late Harold and Emma R. Puschell Cowden. She was a 1948 graduate of Jasonville High School and was raised there. She attended Terre Haute Beauty School. She first married Ralph Richards in 1948 and was blessed with a daughter, Becky, and a son, Mark. She married Wallace Parker in 1962 and was blessed with a daughter, Candace. She married Raymond R. Blackford on March 2, 1974, at Crawfordsville, and was blessed with a step-daughter, Sherri, and a step-son, Larry.
She resided in Greencastle from 1958 to 1971, lived in Crawfordsville from 1971 to 2003, and then moved to Madison in 2003. She worked for Blackford Construction as their bookkeeper and for the Blackford Camp Ground for 30 years. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Crawfordsville and started attending North United Methodist Church after moving to Madison. She was a member of Hanover Order of Eastern Star No. 525 and was a volunteer at the King’s Daughters Hospital. She enjoyed knitting, working with stained glass and loved spending time with her family.
Norma died at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, at her residence in Madison, Indiana.
Norma will be missed by her daughters, Becky Staton (Greg) and Candace Sigmon (Greg); her son, Mark Richards (Gail); her step-daughter, Sherri Blackford; her four grandchildren, Jennifer, Christopher, Abigail and Michael; her five great-grandchildren, Emily, Katherine, Shay, Isabella and Natalie; several cousins and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Cowden;her mother, Emma R. Puschell Cowden; her first husband, Ralph Richards; her second husband, Wallace Parker; her third husband, Raymond R. Blackford; and her step-son, Larry Blackford.
Funeral services were conducted at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4 at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive, Madison. Graveside ceremony was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5 in Oak Hill North Cemetery, Crawfordsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the King’s Daughters’ Oncology or North United Methodist Church. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre’s of Madison and Hanover. Online condolences at www.morgan-nay.com.
