Norma Jean Shannon Croak, 87, of Albany passed away Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Phoebe-Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Joseph L. Crumley officiating. Norma Jean will be laid to rest at Enigma Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service.
Norma Jean's family members will serve as pallbearers.
Born June 17, 1938, in Enigma, Norma Jean Croak was the daughter of the late Robert Lee Cooper Shannon and Vida Lee Hayes Shannon. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert S. Croak; one son, Victor Lamar Stoner; and one brother, Stanley Shannon. Before retiring, she was the owner of and a hairdresser at Silhouette Beauty Salon in Enigma. Norma was an avid collector of antiques, loved going to estate sales, and traveling with her husband, Bob. She was an excellent cook and one of her specialties was pecan pies. Norma Jean, a true southern lady, was a wonderful mother and grandmother, who loved her children and grandchildren deeply.
Norma Jean leaves behind to cherish her memory, two sons and one daughter-in-law, Robert Trent Stoner of Nashville and Phillip Jay and Lynn Stoner of Jacksonville, Florida; one daughter, Dara Janan Downs of Columbus; three stepdaughters, Kara Lee Ann Manning of Bulls Gap, Tennessee, Becky Rae Leroy of Schererville, Indiana and Heide Marie Fallin and her husband Todd of Leesburg; five grandchildren, April Lynn Stoner, Ryan Christopher Stoner, Robert Joshua Stoner, Norma Elena Stoner Gartland and Destry Ryder Downs; nine step grandchildren, Austin Schmidt, Colton Schmidt, Kristi Soto, Sharon Otos, Josie Brown, Meaghan Giles, Shelbi Leroy, Savannah Thottichira, and Derek Leroy; nine great-grandchildren; eight step grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.