Norma Frances (Crane) Williams, 86, of Springfield, passed away on January 31, 2022.  She was born on May 3, 1935 in Leicester, England, UK, to Sidney and Elizabeth (Gudgeon) Crane.

Mom loved the color purple, small children, keeping track of everything going on on her street, especially watching to make sure school children made it safely from the bus to their homes. In her younger years, she loved Agatha Christie novels as well as any true murder stories she could read or watch. But most of all, she loved our Dad - Homer, who passed away just 10 months ago. Mom met him when he was a young, strapping U.S. Army soldier stationed in England. Dad had quite a bit of competition for the beautiful Brit's affections, but he won her over. As a young wife and mother, Mom followed Dad to Army postings in France, the U.K., Washington state, and Maryland but eventually settled in his hometown of Springfield. Mom studied hard and gained her U.S. citizenship but retained her deep affection for England. Mom and Dad spent more than 65 years together and raised three children. Mom stood by Dad as first an Army wife and then for years as a Springfield Police Officer's wife. She was devastated when Dad passed - she truly wanted to go with him. She had "Until We Meet Again" inscribed on his headstone and then longed for the day they would. Mom and Dad, or Babe and Pop, as they called one another, are together again. We are sad for us, but happy for them.

Norma is survived by her loving children Donald (Robin) Williams of Springfield, Stephen (Jeannie) Williams of Rogersville, and U.S. Ambassador Karen Williams, Suriname.  She is also survived by her brother Sidney Crane, UK, and her beloved grandchildren Paul Williams, Jennifer (Jacob) Dodson, Jessica (Phonesai) Lokham, all of Springfield, and Kimberly (Jason) Stevens of Rogersville as well as five great grandchildren, four step-great grandchildren and a plethora of nieces and nephew on both sides of the Atlantic.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, parents and older sister Doreen Crane Edgeley.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 at noon at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield followed by an internment service at Missouri Veterans Cemetery at 2:00 pm.  Flowers may be sent to the funeral home.