Mary Jane Phyllis Norris was born on April 28, 1926, in East Paterson NJ. She was the 3rd of 9 children born to Josephine and Frank St. George.

At the age of 18, she worked for Wrights Aeronautical and helped cut parts for the bombers in WWII.

After the war, she married her first husband, Louis Centore, in 1946 and had her first son, Louis. Sadly, in 1951, she was widowed and cleaned houses as she studied to become a beautician.

On voting day in the early 60's she met her second husband A. Curtis Norris. Upon her marriage to Curtis, she gained a son and daughter, Keith, and Kim, from Curtis's first marriage. Mary Jane and Curtis went on to have a daughter Ellen Ruth who was born in Fresno.

In 1988, she was widowed again upon Curtis's untimely death. She lived the next 36 years in Fresno and surrounded herself with many friends who became her family members.

On Mother's Day weekend, 2 weeks after her 98th birthday, she developed AFib and heart failure. She passed away peacefully on June 5th at her home surrounded by family and close friends.

She is survived by her son Louis Centore and wife Janice, son Keith Norris and wife Sandra, daughter Kim Samuels and grandson Jeffrey, and daughter Ellen Ruth Norris. She is survived, as well, by 5 siblings, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by 3 siblings.

A full and accomplished life of 98 years. She was an ardent witness to make God known in every person's life she touched. Many of God's blessings are delivered in the people He places in our lives…MJ was that divine placement expressed in MJ style-bold and unwavering.