Norma Jean (Kiser) Zent

May 25, 1927, to May 15, 2015
Norma Jean (Kiser) Zent, 87, entered her eternal rest at 3:00 a.m., Friday, May 15, in her home surrounded by family. She died from lung cancer. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Born on May 25, 1927, she was the third and youngest child of the late Nelson and Pansy (Barr) Kiser of Marion, and was a member of the 1945 Marion High School graduating class. Showing interest in music from an early age, she played violin in the orchestra during public school and college. During her three years at Marion College (now IWU), she met David Edwin Zent while rehearsing in a music ensemble; and they were married on September 12, 1948. They made their first home in Warren, Indiana, and in 1956, they moved to Marion, Indiana. Soon they joined the Nelson Street Wesleyan Church and became extensively involved with serving its people, projects, and outreach until their deaths.

Norma and David were blessed with one son and four daughters. Norma was an unusually devoted mother and considered the raising of her children to be her most important ministry. Her natural compassion for her children, her interest in their education and training in music, and her fervent prayers for them shaped many of her years. Loquacious, friendly, outgoing, energetic, honest, kind, and generous, she loved people. Concerned about politics, she was not reticent to promote Christian principles in our society and to advocate strongly for what she felt was the good, true, and right. Her love of details was often expressed in her desire to organize pictures, books, and family history.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband David Zent (2012) and her sister Phyllis (Bob) Orr (2012). Surviving are her brother, Robert Kiser, Lubbock, TX: son, Donald (Roberta) Zent, DMA, Wilmore, KY; daughters, Beverly (Mark) Sheridan, Kokomo, IN; Mary Ellen Zent, Kokomo, IN; Ruth Ann Zent, MD (Adaline Kameroff), Kotzebue, AK; Carol Zent, Kotzebue, AK; three grandchildren, Kevin (Autumn) Zent, MD, Barrington, NH; Jenna (Gualberto) Alfonseca, Spring, TX; Cammi (David) Hanna, Fredericksburg, VA; eight great-grandchildren: Carl, Henry, Greta, Lucy, and Phoebe Zent; and Samuel, Ruby, and Della Alfonseca. She is also survived by sister-in-law Helen (Byron) Tippey; nieces and nephews Jane (Bill) Steadman, Kurt Kiser, Karl Kiser, Bob (Alleta) Tippey, David (Laverne) Tippey; step-great grandchildren Steven Downey-Kameroff, Frank Kameroff, Jr., and Arvid Kameroff; as well as great nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2015, at Nelson Street Wesleyan Church, 1502 W. Nelson Street, (West Entrance) Marion, IN, with Pastor Steve Fletcher officiating. Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 19th, at the church. Burial will be in Estates of Serenity. Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial Gifts may be made to Nelson Street Wesleyan Church or Family Hospice. Online condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com