Norma Elonia Greenleaf

Norma Elonia (Starbird) Greenleaf, 92, died peacefully after a brief illness as her youngest daughter Nancy sang Amazing Grace. She was born to Elonia (Nuite) and Norman Salley Starbird. She was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Greenleaf, her parents and brothers. She is survived by her daughters, Jane and her husband Randy, Lynn and her husband Peter, Laurie and her husband Moeen, Nancy (Macha) and her husband John, and a treasure trove of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews whom she deeply loved. She will be dearly missed!

Norma grew up on a farm and treasured her many adventures with her brothers and best friend. She graduated from Foxcroft Academy and went on to receive her Registered Nurse training from the Sisters of Charity Hospital School of Nursing. She then worked as a nurse at Brown Memorial Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft where she had the opportunity to do everything, including delivering babies, when the doctor was stuck on the train tracks.

She married Jim, her high school sweetheart, and started a family, continuing to work while he studied engineering at the University of Maine, Orono. They relocated to New Jersey upon his graduation where they lived until 1968. They then moved to Overland Park, KS, later moving to Mesa, AZ and retiring in Apache Junction, AZ. After Jim passed in 1998, she went on to build a new life in Bella Vista, AR.

Moving to Olathe, KS in 2007. Norma lived with her eldest daughter Jane and her son-in-law Randy. They loved taking road trips and she and Jane enjoyed painting together in her studio (even entering juried art shows). Norma’s other lifelong passions included sewing, reading, and playing cards. Norma moved to Greenwood Terrace, a retirement community in Lenexa, KS in 2020 where she enjoyed making new friends and being doted on by the staff.

She loved traveling, visiting 48 states. A highlight was flying around the US in a small plane piloted by her husband. She also traveled through Canada and much of Europe. When she was 70 years old Norma volunteered for a mission trip to Chile to help restore a church camp.

Norma was an avid volunteer throughout her life, as a Girl Scout leader for her daughters, teaching classes for the Red Cross, serving as an officer in several P.E.O. chapters (a philanthropic organization committed to helping women pursue higher education), volunteering for hospice, and becoming a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (at 70!). She was an active member of the Methodist church and the United Methodist Women, often taking on leadership roles.  

Norma always had a story tell and loved being around her family and friends. If you have a story or thoughts to share, please do so below.

There will not be a service due to the pandemic. Norma supported the following charities: St. Jude’s and Doctors Without Borders. You can honor her with a donation if you choose.