Lifelong Phillips County resident, Norma Jean Gitchel, died Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at the Smith County Care Center-Deseret in Smith Center, Kansas at the age of 79.

She was born March 14, 1931 in Phillips County, Kansas the daughter of Earl & Pearl (Ritter) Stevens. She was a homemaker

She was united in marriage to Milo Allen Gitchel on March 18, 1949 in Phillipsburg. He preceded her in death on November 11, 2000.

Also preceding her in death were her parents, two sons, Allan & Elbert Lee Gitchel; two grandchildren, Pearl & Violet Willis & a great granddaughter, Ellie Runnion.

Norma is survived by her son, Delbert Gitchel of Wilcox, NE; three daughters, Eileen Branstetter of Salina, KS, Kathy Willis of Dodge City, KS and Lois Haas of Phillipsburg; two sisters, Larraine Bartley of Smith Center and LaDonna Wilcox of Partridge, KS; 9 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.

Cremation was planned. Memorial services were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 16, 2010 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Brian Loreg officiating. Private inurnment followed in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Norma Jean Gitchel Memorial Fund.