Norma Jean (Short) Durnell

Norma Jean Durnell, age 94, passed away peacefully at Ohio Living Dorothy Love in Sidney on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 7:00 a.m.

She was born on August 9, 1929, in Oran, Ohio, to the late John E. Short and Marjorie L. (Nesmith) Short.

She married Eugene L. Durnell on June 8, 1947, in the Oran Congregational Church in Oran, OH. He passed away on March 8, 2011.  They were married for 63 years.

She is survived by daughter, Sherry Deitering of Sidney, daughter in law Judy (Jerry DeLoye) of Sidney and son in law, Bernard Barhorst of Piqua.

She is also survived by grandchildren, Melissa (Swob) and her husband Rick Hirschfeld of Sidney, Mark Swob and his wife Carrie (Landwehr) of New Bremen, Michael Barhorst and his wife Christina (Boecker) of Troy, Jeremy Barhorst of Troy, Nicholas Barhorst of Piqua, Deanna (Durnell) and her husband Mark Eilerman of Fort Loramie, Elizabeth (Durnell) and her husband Wes Maier of Sidney, and Stephanie (Durnell) and her husband Brandon Lancaster of Tennessee. Deborah (Deitering) and her husband Tim Blair of Tennessee, Sandra (Deitering) McRoberts, Jeffrey Deitering and his wife Jane (Frilling), Annette (Deitering) and her husband Dave Kauffman and Jack Deitering and wife Tammy, all of Sidney.

Great Grandchildren, Lyndsi (Eric) Boggs, Jayden Drees, Kylie Hooper, McKenzie (Adam) Schrack, Samantha Fairchild, Siera (Trenton) McMichaels and Andrew Swob, Ethan, Quinn and Harper Barhorst, Kayla Barhorst, Jay Kacin, Jovi, Piper and Duke Lancaster, Klayla and David Elder and Kardel Winfeld, Kara (Alex) Hartings and Nicole Maier.  Alisha (Andrew) MacMillan, Brittany Rethman, Ashley (Alex) Counts, Caleb and Taylor Kauffman, Meghan (Brent) Becker and Jordan Mills, Summer Koeper and fiancé Justin Platfoot, Dalton and Jacob Koeper, Derik Rinderie, Kasey Simons and Cameron Caldwell.

Great Great Grandchildren, Lola Hopper, Brahm Neddo, Avalynn, Nora, Barrett and Elliott McMichael, Ezra Boggs, Hayes Schrack, Hunter Yoder, Burk, Delaney and Tate Rethman, Grayson and Evelyn MacMillan, Aiden Counts, Leland, Cohen and Hazel Becker and Olivia and Maximus Mills, Emmalyn Platfoot and Carndyn Yeagle and Cohen Simons, and several nieces and nephews.

Norma is preceded in death by her husband Eugene Durnell, in 2011, son Gary Durnell in 2010, daughter Kristina Barhorst in 2019, son in law John Deitering in 2016 and Great Great Granddaughter Eisley Boggs in 2019.  Sister and brother in law Joan and Donald Mills, brother and sister in laws, Charles and Frances Durnell and Charles and June Knouff.

She graduated in 1947 from Houston High School.  She had been employed at Monnier and Co for several years and retired in 1989 from Shelby Memory Gardens.

She had been an avid walker and she was very proud to tell you that she walked at least 3 miles a day. And her favorite saying was “And I Done It My Way”.

She was a member of the Oran Congregational Church in Oran for several years and most recently a member of St John’s Lutheran Church in Sidney.

Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Adams Funeral Home, 1401 Fair Road, Sidney. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Steven Edmiston of St John’s Lutheran Church officiating.  Burial will follow at Houston Cemetery in Houston, Ohio.

Donations to Alzheimer’s Association and to Hospice of Miami County in Norma’s memory.

On line memories may be made at www.theadamsfuneralhome.com.

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