Norma (Lovejoy) Smith, 87, of Tornado, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, of a long-term illness at Arbors Nursing Home in Gallipolis, Ohio. She is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Burnie, and her son Teddy Joe. She is also preceded by her parents, Mitchey and Daisy (Bell) Lovejoy, brothers Bobby and Cleo, sisters Dean, Violet, Genevieve, and Ellie.
Norma is survived by her children Carl (Gail), her daughter- in-law Teresa (Ted’s loving wife), Terry (Melody), Anthony (Joyce), Charles, Curtis (Heather), and Kathy (Bobby) Gray. Mamaw deeply loved her grandchildren, Sarah (John) Walls, Crystal (Jason) Hager, Brandon (Stacey), Amber, Beth, Kellie (Shawn) Aldridge, Addison (Arianna), Morgan (Rachel), Kayleen, Mackenzie Heinaman, and her step-grandson Jacob Hugg. She adored her great-grandchildren Braelyn O’Neal, Ryker O’Neal, Evan Walls, Lily Walls, Ana Toro, Felix, Maverick, and step-great-grandchild Jackson Aldridge. She is also survived by her brother, Curtis (Ruby) and sisters, Juanita Gillespie and Evelyn (Denny) Asbury. She held a special place in her heart for her niece, Cindy Lusk, who always made sure that Mom and her sisters were able to get together.
Mom loved Thanksgiving, which is when all of the family got together over the holiday. She would spend a month planning it all out. We ate a lot, laughed a lot, and had an annual “girl’s day” going Black Friday shopping. Everyone knew how she loved and tended to her flower gardens, especially her roses. You would find her on the first warm spring days digging in the dirt. She and Dad raised gardens, chickens, pigs, goats, honeybees, fruit trees, and berry bushes. What didn’t go into the dinner table or was given away was canned, to be enjoyed during the winter months. And no one topped her pinto beans, fried potatoes, and cornbread – or biscuits and gravy.
She spent her life raising her kids and caring for the home while they traveled with Dad’s Air Force career, from Florida, to Alaska, Ohio, finally settling on Coal River Road in Lincoln County. Mom had the kindest and most sensitive heart, was tough when times were hard, and was always resilient. It wasn’t uncommon for her to help build a house, wipe a child’s tear, make a full dinner, and care for her mother or father-in-law during the end of their elderly years, all in the same day.
Mom’s absence here on earth will be felt by many but her spirit lives on in all that she loves. She’s our guardian angel now.
A special thank you to the loving staffs at English Meadows (Lavender Hills) in Scott Depot and Arbors Nursing Home of Gallipolis, Ohio. We could never thank you enough for the kindness you gave our mother during her last few years. And to Curry Funeral Home for always being there for us.
A wake will be held on Friday, August 28 from 6-8p at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek, West Virginia. The funeral will be at Curry’s on Saturday, August 29th at 2pm with family friend Dakota Smith officiating. Burial will be at Forks of Coal Cemetery. Following will be a potluck dinner celebrating Norma at Church of God community building in Sumerco.
