Margaret Karen (Gillette) Norrell

Margaret Karen Gillette Norrell was born September 21, 1938, in Bozeman Montana

Karen passed away February 16, 2023, in Burleson Texas. She was married at the time of her death to Charles "Sonny" Norrell. Karen and Sonny were married April 13, 1958, and in April would have celebrated 65 years together.

Karen was born in Montana to Margaret W. Gillette and Earnest Gillette.  Karen's Father died when she was 4 and at the age of 5 her mother could no longer care for her and she was then sent to live with an aunt in Houston until the age of 6, when it was then determined she would be sent to the Itasca Children's Home that resided in Itasca, Texas. Karen would live there until she turned 18 years of age and graduate from Itasca High School.

She was then given $25 and a bus ticket to Fort Worth where she resided at the Young Women's Christian Association in downtown Fort Worth.

Karen began working for Southwestern Bell as a long-distance operator and draftswoman and then later she would work for Samsil Brothers Printing as a printer. She met her husband Sonny while on strike on the picket line where they both worked for Ma Bell as Karen would call it.

Karen was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in Itasca Texas in 1946 where she was a member until 2002. In September of 2002, Karen and Sonny became members and attended Travis Avenue Baptist Church until they could no longer drive to church.

Both Karen and Sonny in 2005 were given Volunteer of the year awards for the city of Forest Hill by The State of Texas House of Representatives.

Karen was very proud of her routine donations to Carter Blood bank where over the course of her life she donated 10 gallons which helped save many lives.

Karen enjoyed gardening, sewing, and reading in her spare time. She was a fabulous cook when it came to desserts, she had a knack for all types of sweets. She was also an avid fisherwoman she loved to fish at Lake Whitney where her and Sonny had a lake for many years.

Karen also enjoyed her trips to Idaho where she stayed with a cousin on a cattle ranch, this is where her heart loved to be. She was a mountain girl for sure according to her daughter. She also prided herself with having a concealed handgun license and according to her daughter she was always packing.

She was preceded in her death by her Mother Margaret Gillette and her Father Earnest Gillette.

Karen is survived by her husband Sonny,

Daughter Terrie and her husband Mike and grandchildren Brook Burris Salazar and husband Robert Salazar and Michael Stafford Burris,

Son Curtis Norrell and grandchildren Crystal Norrell and Sonny William Norrell.

Karen is also survived by three great grandchildren Lucas Salazar, Alexis Salazar (children of Brook and Robert) and Jordon Norrell-Glenn (son of Crystal).