Norma Jean Morris Day of Greenville, Delaware died Monday, December 2, 2019, at the age of 89. She had resided in Delaware since 1957, the last nine years at the retirement community Stonegates.
A talented artist, Norma earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Art and Master of Arts in English degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, and was an active member of The Studio Group for 62 years, holding every officer position at one time or another. While she preferred to work in watercolor on location, she also excelled at still life, mixed media and oil portraits, with some of her art held in the collections of Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington Trust, Stephens College, and Hotel DuPont. Her most notable exhibitions were at Delaware Art Museum; University of Delaware; Chester County Art Association; The Studio Group; and numerous solo and small-group shows in the Wilmington area and invitational shows in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, to William D. and Norma L. (Adams) Morris, Norma was a student at The University of Texas where she met Herman O’Neal Day, Jr. to whom she was married from 1952 until his death in 1995. They had four children to whom she passed her love of history, travel, trivia, genealogy, reading, needlework, puzzles, and more. She was a member of Second Baptist Church (now Silverside Church) where she sang in the choir and arranged flowers for many years.
She enjoyed traveling very much, ascending Machu Picchu well into her 70s, journeying to Russia, Egypt, Israel, and much of Europe as well as the Yucatan. Many of the ornaments that grace her family’s Christmas trees stem from a trip she took to an exotic location.
In her free time she enjoyed volunteering as a docent at Winterthur and Hagley museums, and throughout her life, she supported literature and the arts, as an active member of the AAUW where she sorted books for their annual book sale, and as a 25-year member of Delaware Art Museum’s 1912 Society. She was a lifetime member of the Ex-Students’ Association of The University of Texas and an Alpha Chi Omega alumna.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her only sister Marianne Jones of Watertown, Mass.; one son, W. David Day (Kristine) of Jupiter, Fla.; three daughters, Elaine Neal (Larry) of Del Rio, Texas; Kathleen Salazar (Gabe) of Austin, Texas; Marianne Addy (Mark) of Mandeville, La.; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Condolences
Thank You
Your online condolence will appear once approved by our site administrator.