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HOUGHTON - Norma Lee Stuart, age 93, of Houghton, Michigan, died peacefully at home on February 5, 2026.
Norma Lee was born in Flint, Michigan on May 20, 1932, the daughter of Warner and Leona (Neal) Remington. She grew up in Flint and Davison, Michigan, and graduated from Davison High School in 1950. She then enrolled at Michigan State University in East Lansing, majoring in journalism. While there, she met her future husband, Douglas Stuart, and developed other lifelong friendships - establishing a pattern of fostering deep friendships and holding them dearly.
By the time Doug graduated from MSU in 1952, he and Norma Lee were engaged to be married, with a planned wedding date after her anticipated graduation in 1954. However, in the summer of 1953, Doug, then on Air Force active duty, received short-notice orders to the Calumet Radar Station on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. On little more than one week's notice, Doug and Norma Lee were married so she could accompany him to his new assignment. It was the beginning of what would become seven decades of residence in the Copper Country and nearly 72 years of marriage.
Upon arriving in the Keweenaw, Norma Lee and Doug resided briefly in Calumet before relocating to Houghton. Despite not yet having completed her bachelor's degree, Norma Lee was hired by the Chassell School District to teach fifth grade during the 1953-54 school year, an experience she enjoyed so much that when she returned to MSU to complete her degree, she added the coursework to earn a teaching certificate. She was delighted and touched when some of her 5th graders reached out many years later to express their gratitude for what she brought to their school experience.
By the time Doug's active-duty Air Force service ended in 1954, he and Norma Lee had established roots in the Copper Country, but returned to East Lansing several times to further their education. Norma Lee completed her bachelor's degree and went on to earn a Master of Arts degree. She was hired to teach Freshman English at Michigan Tech at a time when women instructors were still a rarity there.
Service to her community was an integral part of Norma Lee's life. She was an active member of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country for many years, and among other contributions, served as the chapter's president for a year, as the lead for production of Voters' Guides, and as a monitor of local government meetings. In support of her daughters, she was active in Girl Scouting and served on the board of the Peninsula Waters Girl Scout Council. She served on the Board of Directors of the Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Community Action Agency from 1967 to 1982 and was a long-time member of the Portage Lake United Church in Houghton. In addition to her formal community service roles, Norma Lee's generous nature meant she was always ready to help those in need, whether with a ride, a helping hand, a listening ear, or simple companionship.
Norma Lee valued words, was curious and eager to learn. She was an avid reader but often said that the dictionary was the one book she would choose if stranded on a desert island. She loved nature and was especially interested in wildflowers. Her family became accustomed to waiting patiently while she searched for an elusive beach, forest, or roadside specimen. She cherished her family and enjoyed a good adventure, treasuring family excursions to Isle Royale, trips to visit far-flung children, and entertaining her grandchildren during summer visits and cross-country road trips.
In addition to her parents, Norma Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas (in 2025), and her brother, Norman Remington. She is survived by her three children, Ted Stuart (Nadija Packauskas), Carol Sciberras (John Sciberras), and Sheryl Stuart, and three grandchildren, Laura Ely (Skylar Coelho), Jonathan Ely and Robert Stuart.
A memorial service for Norma Lee will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Portage Lake United Church in Houghton. Visitation will begin at 10:15 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the church. Norma Lee's ashes will be interred at Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton that afternoon, beginning around 1:30 p.m. All are welcome.
To send condolences to the family, please visit www.oneilldennisfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made in Norma Lee's honor to the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country (https://my.lwv.org/michigan/copper-country) or to the Portage Lake United Church (Home, Portage Lake United Church).