Norma Hocking Johnson, born December 20, 1933, to Oliver and Mary Hocking in Franklin, Illinois, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026, at the age of 92.

A graveside service to honor Norma’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, August 30th at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Newport, officiated by Pastor Rylan Jones.

Norma was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Patrick Kelly “PK” Johnson, Sr., with whom she shared 72 wonderful years of marriage and a lifetime of love, adventure, service, and family.

She is survived by her two sons, Patrick Kelly Johnson, Jr., and his wife, Deborah, of Surf City, North Carolina, and Kane Rick Johnson, and his wife, Megan, of Newport, North Carolina.

At the age of 18, Norma left her hometown of Franklin, Illinois, in search of opportunity—and, as she liked to say, because there were few prospects there for either work or eligible bachelors. Her adventurous spirit took her to Washington, D.C., where she accepted a position in the typing pool at the Pentagon with the Department of the Navy.

Life in Washington suited Norma. She loved playing basketball on the weekends, learned how to drive a car, and collected stories she would tell for years to come. One family favorite involved rear-ending a police officer while attempting to light a cigarette—even though she was never actually a smoker. As luck would have it, the officer was also from Illinois and sent her on her way with only a warning.

More importantly, Washington was where Norma met the love of her life, a young United States Marine named Patrick Kelly “PK” Johnson. After a whirlwind two-month courtship, they married on May 23, 1953. Their marriage would span 72 years, countless adventures, military moves, deployments, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a lifetime of memories.

As a Marine Corps spouse, Norma embraced a life that required extraordinary strength, resilience, and independence. She moved frequently as PK’s assignments took their family from one duty station to another. During his twenty years of service, Norma endured five deployments, including tours in Cuba, Korea, and Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Through long separations and the uncertainties of military life, Norma provided the steady foundation at home, raising their two sons and keeping the family together.

Norma’s devotion to her family extended into her community. While raising her sons in Newport, she served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, giving her time and energy to the young boys in the community. Together with PK, she also helped start the T-ball program in Newport, creating an opportunity for local children to learn the game, make friends, and have fun. These were just a few examples of Norma’s willingness to step in, get involved, and make her community a better place.

After raising her sons, Norma returned to the workforce and was employed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, where she worked until her retirement. In many ways, her professional life came full circle—from a young woman working for the Navy Department at the Pentagon to later working at Cherry Point, an installation so closely connected to the Marine Corps life she and PK shared for so many years.

A woman of strong faith, Norma was deeply active in the Church of Christ throughout her life. Her faith was a source of strength and guidance through the many seasons of military life, raising her family, and the joys and challenges of more than seven decades of marriage. She valued her church family and lived her faith through kindness, service, generosity, and a genuine love for others.

Norma never met a stranger. She possessed a natural ability to talk with anyone, make people feel welcome, and turn even ordinary moments into stories worth remembering. Her warmth, humor, independence, and unmistakable personality left an impression wherever she went.

She was a devoted grandmother to Patrick Johnson; Tate Johnson and his wife, Elly; Brooke Johnson and her wife, Christy; Alex Padgett and her husband, Andrew; and Allison Ellingsworth and her husband, Joshua. She was also a cherished great-grandmother to Fitzpatrick, Smithwick, Tatum, Ellie, and Scottie, each of whom brought her immense pride and joy.

Norma will also be deeply missed for the love she shared through her kitchen. She was a wonderful cook, and her fried chicken was legendary within the family. For her grandchildren, however, few treats could compete with Frama Norma’s Grasshoppers. They were more than a dessert—they were one of those simple family traditions that will forever bring back memories of Norma.

In her memory, Norma’s family would like to share her Grasshoppers recipe so that others can make them, enjoy them, and think of her while doing so.

• Norma’s Grasshoppers
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• Ingredients:
• 1 (12 oz.) bag chocolate chips
• ⅓ of a 12 oz. bag butterscotch chips
• 1 cup chopped nuts — peanuts, walnuts, pecans, or a combination
• ¾ of a can of chow mein noodles
• A small amount of water, if needed
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• Directions:
• Melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips together until smooth. 
• If needed, add a small amount of water to help the mixture come together. 
• Stir in the chopped nuts and chow mein noodles, mixing well until everything is coated. 
• Drop by the spoonful onto parchment paper and refrigerate until set.
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• Then enjoy—preferably surrounded by family, with a good story about Norma to share.
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Norma’s life was one of faith, adventure, devotion, resilience, humor, and love. From a small town in Illinois to Washington, D.C., and through a lifetime alongside a career Marine, she built a remarkable story over more than nine decades. Yet of all the places she went and all the roles she held, none mattered more to her than wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Together, Norma and PK built a legacy that reaches far beyond their 72 years of marriage—a family shaped by their devotion to one another, their service and sacrifice, their faith, their stories, their laughter, and the love they passed from one generation to the next.

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.