Norma 'Jean' Desper
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Norma "Jean" Desper passed away at 1:21 p.m. Thursday, May 27, 2010, at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2010, at the Reilly-Redenius Funeral Home, Piper City. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2010, at the Reilly-Redenius Funeral Home, Piper City. Burial will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Cottonwood. The graveside service will be at 4 p.m. Memorials may be made to Carmi Baptist Children's Home or Clifton Baptist Church.
Jean was born Jan. 29, 1933, in Jonesboro, the daughter of the late Charles and Edna Irvin Sims. She married James L. Desper on June 20, 1954. In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters; her sons, David and Paul Desper; and her daughter, Ann Desper Finis.
Jean is survived by her husband, Jim of nearly 56 years; her son, James Jr.; her grandson, Lee Finis; and three sisters.
She was a member of the Clifton Baptist Church. Jean was a medical records transcriptionist for 35 years. She will be sadly missed by her family.
Local arrangements are in care of Cox and Son Funeral Home in Ridgway.