Graveside service for former Lawton resident Esel Irene Norris, 89, will be at 11:00 am Saturday, August 31, 2013, at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with The Rev. Shelley Forrester, Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Lawton officiating. Mrs. Norris passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 in Dallas, TX. Esel was born August 31, 1923 in Manitou, Oklahoma to William Allen and Mintie Elva (Tuttle) Stellman. She grew up on a farm near Manitou, and played the piano, basketball and was an excellent student, who graduated at the top of her class from Manitou High School in 1940. She earned a scholarship to Hill's Business University in Oklahoma City and graduated with honors in April 1941. Esel moved to Lawton and worked for the Red Cross at Fort Sill. She married William L. Norris on June 3, 1943. She worked for many years as a legal secretary for the law firm Bledsoe & Nicklas, and later for Bledsoe & Bledsoe. In 1974 she began working for the federal court system at the U.S. Probation Office and retired in 1993. She was and always will be a terrific mom, grandmother "Nana" wife and daughter. She was den mother for Cub Scouts, Bluebirds, Campfire Girls, school classroom mother, and transportation coordinator for the important lessons and activities of piano, dancing, guitar, speech, football, and of course school. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where she taught Sunday school classes. Survivors include her three children, William A. Norris and wife Cathy of Dallas, TX, George D. "Bud" Norris and his wife Elizabeth of Red Oak, TX, Jane Ann Norris and Partner Anne Zachritz of Oklahoma City, five grandchildren, Samuel D. Norris and William B. Norris both of Irving, TX, Elizabeth Kathleen Norris of Red Oak, TX, J. Michael Norris of Saint Helena, CA and Cheylenne Marie Fleming and her husband Rob of Dallas, TX, and two great grandchildren, Morgan Ashley Fleming and Reece Robert Fleming of Dallas, TX. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill who passed away January 25, 2004. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org