Norma Jane Slaughter

Norma Jane Hunt Slaughter, age 91, passed away Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Pine Acres in West Des Moines.

Norma was born January 19, 1932, in Williamson, Iowa to Alfred and Cecile (Poush) Richards. She graduated from East High School in Des Moines and was a Des Moines resident her entire life. Norma married Howard Hunt, and to this union one daughter was born – Pamela Hunt (Ostrem). Norma accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior into her heart in her early 20s. She was a 4th grade girls Sunday school teacher for many years for Grandview Park Baptist Church. She loved spoiling her Sunday school girls taking them on many outings to Adventureland, the Christian Center for sledding, and even slumber parties at her own home. She loved to pour God’s love into her class.

Norma worked for Iowa Food Dealers Association, from where she retired in 1986 to care for her husband. She knew and worked with all the local grocers and even got to meet celebrities like “Cookie” from Cookie’s Barbeque Sauce. She enjoyed their yearly conventions and was blessed with the gift of a trip to Hawaii for her retirement, and she never forgot the beauty she saw there.

Norma met her second husband, Charlie Slaughter when they were both members of Grandview Baptist Church. He was a wonderful, kind man who shared her love of the Lord. They enjoyed many years together camping, traveling, enjoying church activities, and gathering their blended family together for the holidays. They both became members of Fellowship Baptist Church.

Norma was a songbird and loved singing in the church choir. She was even known to be heard singing in the nursing facility, always praising the Lord. She liked playing Bingo and Skip-Bo, and liked coloring which she did a lot in recent years. She had a legendary sweet tooth and was never one to say no to chocolate.

Norma loved to travel, camp, fish, make cards, arts and crafts, and going to church and ladies Bible study. Above all, she loved time spent with her grandchildren and was always ready to give out hugs. Norma was slow to anger. She used soft words and gave lots of second chances. She was silly and full of adventure, and she was always ready to laugh. Norma was kind, loving, and understanding.

She is survived by her granddaughter, Heidi (Kirk) Moss; three great-grandchildren, Baelei, Marissa, and Kaide; and her half-sister, Terri Risdon. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Denise (Troy) Jons, Diane (Rick) Floden, Debbie Slaughter, Gary Slaughter and their families.

Norma was preceded in death by her daughter, Pamela Ostrem; grandson, Shane Ostrem; her first husband, Howard Kenneth Hunt; her second husband, Charles Scott Slaughter, Jr.; stepdaughter, Donna Brown; stepson, Ron Slaughter; mother, Cecile Denton; and father, Alfred Richards.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 1, 2023, also at Hamilton’s, with burial to follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery. There will be a reception at Fellowship Baptist Church, 1503 SE 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50315 after the burial.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to Fellowship Baptist Church in loving memory of Norma.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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