Norma Jean Stooksbury

Norma Jean Clay Stooksbury went home to be with the lord Thursday, January 22, 2026. She was born in Indianapolis Indiana and moved to Knoxville at the age of 4. She graduated from Knoxville Central High School in 1960. She met and married the love of her life her “Poopsy”, Robert Edward Stooksbury on February 3, 1963 at the Sevier County Courthouse. Norma worked at the Knoxville Animal Clinic early in her marriage. There she worked with the one and only “Jungle Jack Hanna.” Someone she kept in contact with for years. She raised three children before returning to a career at the Knoxville Zoo as an assistant administrator. In 1990 she began working for St. Mary’s Hospital, retiring in 1998. Norma was a member of North Knoxville Baptist Church and the Abner Baker 1404 UDC. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Edward Stooksbury, parents, Leona and Charles Clay, sister, Mary Ellen Summers, and great niece Racheal Summers. She is survived by her children, Kim Haase (Glenn), Lisa Thomas (Brian), and Greg Stooksbury (Kimberly), grandchildren, Cameron, Robbie, Sammy, Kayla, and Clay, great-grandchildren, Thorin, Thana, Theodin, Vinny, Bella, Eli, Aiden, Malachi, and Therese, sister, Linda Hatton, special caretakers, Mary, Kay, Marie, Senretha, and Jeanie, and a host of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at North Knoxville Baptist Church 217 W Oldham Avenue Knoxville, TN 37917 followed by a 7:00 pm Celebration of Life Service, Rev. Tom Hatley and Rev. Gene Nelson officiating. Family and friends will meet 1:45 pm Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at Pleasant Piney Grove Baptist Church Cemetery 2660 Piney Road New Market, TN for a 2:00 pm graveside service. Condolences may be expressed at www.mynattfh.com.