Nora M. Winslow, 97, of Parsons passed away at 5:33 p.m. Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor.
Born on the Kramer family farm near Galesburg on May 14, 1927, Nora Maye was the daughter of William B. and Eva (Gager) Kramer. She attended a one-room elementary schoolhouse in Neosho County and walked over a mile each day to and from Centerville to attend her classes.
She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1944 and continued her education with the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps at Parsons Mercy Hospital. Her early ambition to be in nursing was realized when she worked at Mercy Hospital and Labette Health as a nurse’s aide during her career.
Nora married Robert “Bob” Winslow in 1947 and together raised eight children.
Nora’s creativity and amazing energy were demonstrated in her love of quilting, genealogy, creative writing, crocheting, sewing and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
When Cabbage Patch dolls were in short supply, Nora made over 50 “look-alike” dolls to sell and give away. Each had their own theme, and she called them “Nora’s kids.”
Once her last child moved away, she wrote and assembled books for each of her eight children, highlighting their childhood that included stories, photos, newspaper clippings and her diary entries. She also wrote a book about her time in the Nurses Corps entitled “My Life as a Student Nurse-US Cadet Nurse Corps at Mercy Hospital, Parsons, Kansas.” This book is currently on display in the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front Museum in Richmond, California.
Her interest in family genealogy was brought to life in the many stories from the Winslow and Kramer family history that she wrote in her later years.
Nora taught children’s Sunday school classes, served as a Brownie Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother and room mother at Washington Elementary School for all of her children.
Survivors include her eight children, Marilyn Winslow of San Rafael, California, John Winslow (Ann) of Denver, Colorado, Bill Winslow (Mai) of Adelaide Australia, Judy (Joe) Molinary of Dallas, Texas, Joe Winslow (Patty) of Topeka, Mike Winslow (Tammy) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Barbara Cook (Toby) of Overland Park and Jayne Winslow of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; her 15 grandchildren and stepgrandchildren, Natalie Winslow, Nicole Day, Lee Day, Ivy Jahansooz Miller, Dr. Sean Jahansooz, Leigha Jahansooz, Justin Rocha, Adam Cook, Molly Cook, Annabelle Cook, Andrew Cook, Caroline Cook, Joshua Clifford, Matthew Clifford, Jake Clifford; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; two sisters, Janette Perutelli and Jeanie Cooper; her brother, William Kramer; and her parents.
A celebration of Nora’s life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home with Pastor Marty Warren officiating. The family will receive friends from noon until service time that day. In lieu of flowers, Nora has requested donations in her name be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City or Mt. Zion Church of Cherryvale, and these may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS, 67357.
Leave online condolences at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
