Norma Fay Wilson Akins, 80, of Springfield, Missouri, entered eternity on Friday, April 2, 2021, after a short illness.

Norma was born May 25, 1940, to Lawrence and Lessie (Samford) Wilson near Emory, TX.

The family moved three times in three years, ending up in Victoria, TX, where she lived until her marriage. She graduated from Victoria High School in 1958 and from Lillie Jolly Baptist Memorial Nursing School in Houston in 1961. She met the love of her life, John Akins, when the gospel quartet, with which he was traveling as pianist, had a service in her home church, when she “happened” to be home from nursing school for the day. They were married in the same church two years later, on June 1, 1962. Soon after their marriage they moved to San Antonio for John to enter the US Air Force, and she joined her husband at two duty stations, in Maine, and in El Paso, Texas, where both of their children were born. Following his discharge from the Air Force, the family lived in locations where John served on university faculties in Texas, Maine, and at Evangel University in Springfield. Norma served as a hospital nurse at most of the locations where they resided, and as the administrator of the Mary E. Wilson Home for elderly ladies in Springfield for five years. She then worked in the newborn nursery at Cox Hospital for sixteen years until retirement. Following that she served as a nanny for several years.

Norma thoroughly enjoyed her life of nursing, primarily working evenings to coordinate with John’s teaching schedule. Steadfastly loyal to her husband and tirelessly supportive of her children, their extensive involvement in musical and other school activities brought her great joy. She was dedicated in church involvement and other ministry outreaches, and had a great love of sewing, cooking and travel (she visited 48 of the 50 states and a number of foreign countries). Her grandsons brought her great pride, and she adored her new baby granddaughter.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Lessie Wilson, and two siblings, brother LaVon Wilson and sister Barbara Hauge. She is survived by her husband of nearly 59 years, John, daughter Dawn Akins Payne of Lee’s Summit, MO, son Christopher and wife Parvina of Springfield; younger brother Robert Wilson of Burns Lake, BC, Canada; and grandchildren Ethan, Colin and Aniela.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at Central Assembly of God, 1301 N. Boonville, Springfield, with visitation preceding from 9:00 to 10:45. Social distancing and masks will be required. Services coordinated by Greenlawn East Funeral Home.