Norma McKinney Meek, 82, a proud citizen of Ashland, Ky., died in her home with family by her side in the evening of November 28, 2024, after enjoying a Thanksgiving day celebration. Norma was married to James “Jim” Meek for 52 years, and was the daughter of Dorothy Goins Crooks and Earl McKinney, all of whom predeceased her. Norma is survived by her two children Dustin Meek (Marc Murphy) and Tyler Meek (Robyn Layne Meek). She was very proud of her children and six grandchildren and loved talking about them to anyone who was kind enough to listen. Her grandchildren James “Jay” Murphy, Peter Murphy (Jerilyn Manzella), John Murphy, Layne Meek, McKinney “Mac” Meek, and Abigail “Abby” Meek affectionately referred to her as Gaga. Norma is the sister of Nancy McKinney Wheeler, who predeceased her, and James “Jim” Crooks (Faye Crooks).

Norma attended Wiley Elementary and graduated from Ashland High School and then Eastern Kentucky University, where she was a member of the water ballet team. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Ashland and served in various leadership roles.

Norma was a retired Boyd County Public School teacher, teaching second grade at Summit Elementary for most of her 49-year teaching career, and serving as the district’s first Family Resource Center Director at Catlettsburg Elementary for 10 of those years. Norma never stopped working and continued serving in various positions throughout the Ashland community and the nation, including as Senior Associate of the Edward Zigler Center for Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University, Executive Director of the Paramount Arts Center, Interim Director of the YMCA, and various Board and leadership positions on The Pritchard Committee, Ashland Tennis Commission, Ashland Animal Rescue Fund, Ashland Central Park Commission, Ashland Public Library Board, The Ramey-Estep Home, Chairman of the United Way Campaign, CASA, and as Executive Officer and board member of The North Shore Animal League, the world’s largest and longest-running no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. Norma was also a longstanding Ashland business owner along with her sister Nancy of the Ashland Milling Company, which continues to be owned and operated by family.

Most recently, Norma has devoted her boundless energy to raising funds to support women’s scholarships at the Ashland Community & Technical College through the Women, Wine, Jewels & More event, and in organizing the annual Daffodil Spring-tacular, to showcase the beauty and resilience of the Ashland community, with 40,000 daffodil bulbs now planted throughout the city. Norma also often wrote in the Daily Independent in her Appetizing Ashland columns in which she highlighted local restaurants and culinary offerings.

A celebration of Norma’s life will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church of Ashland, 1811 Carter Avenue, Ashland, Ky. 41101, with Rev. Jeff Bramel officiating. Visitation begins at 12:30 p.m. and the memorial service begins at 1:30 p.m. Steen Funeral Homes has been selected to manage arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, contributions of time and talent may be made to your children’s or grandchildren’s schools (just ask how!) or to any community non-profit organization that you would like to support. Monetary donations may be made to the Norma Meek Community Women’s Scholarship at ACTC, 1400 College Dr., Ashland, Ky. 41101, or to the First United Methodist Church of Ashland, 1811 Carter Avenue, Ashland, Ky. 41101.