Norma Mika Prince

Beloved Mother, Sister, Friend, and Colleague

Norma Lou Mika Prince, born as the 11^th child of 13 to Margaret and Lucian Mika in Karnes City, Texas, was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, friend, mentor, and community member. Living most of her life in Colorado, she could often be found reading, hiking, and biking in the mountains of her rural home near Estes Park, spending time with her son Jason, or volunteering in various organizations surrounding LGBTQ+ activism and project management.

Norma was a lifelong curious learner and tinkerer, having graduated with a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.Sc. in Computer Information Technology from Regis University, which led to an accomplished career in the hard drive and medical device industries. After many years as a mechanical engineer, she developed a deep passion for project management, and was proud to obtain her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. Her entrepreneurial pursuits include two companies built with her former husband, Marshall, in Georgetown, Texas: Mechanical Design Group Inc. and The Wood Place Fine Furniture, as well as designing and building two beautiful mountain homes together. She strongly supported and encouraged her son’s technical and business pursuits. Her favorite job of all showcased her exquisite creativity and sewing skills at a costume shop, Second Childhood, near UT Austin, and some of her most cherished memories were made as a waitress at the Green Diamond with her sisters in Karnes City.

Norma’s compassion, love, and expansive sense of humor were felt by everyone in her life. She enjoyed developing close relationships with her colleagues and was always willing to lend a friendly ear, demonstrating the care and attention she brought to everyone around her. She had many insights on how businesses that fully supported their employees could far exceed expectations through constructive collaboration, which she was developing into a book and curriculum that she hoped might foster healthier and happier workplace teams. When her son came out, she was committed to learning how to be a supportive mother. This passion found a new outlet while living in Utah, where she helped guide other parents of LGBTQ+ children with Mama Dragons and volunteered at the Encircle House, a safe place for queer youth. Her miraculous and self-driven, self-discovered recovery from a tragic stroke in January 2021 encouraged her to bring hope and awareness to many fellow stroke patients and doctors.

Norma loved to meet people from all over the world, and fondly recalled her travels outside the country. She enjoyed hosting guests from overseas and bringing people together with cookie baking parties and Easter Egg hunts. Shoveling snow always brought mountainous joy to her Texas heart, in addition to writing, journaling, crafting, dancing, camping, road tripping, decorating tea cakes, carving pumpkins, drinking iced tea, adventuring with the Mommy & Me crew, reading books to children (especially her son), and listening to all sorts of music (especially Willie Nelson).

She is survived by her son, Jason, and his partner, Mike; her former husband, Marshall; eight sisters and two brothers; five stepchildren; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, and beloved friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lucian and Margaret, her sister Beverley, and her brother Leslie.

Norma will always be remembered by those around her as a beacon of genuine compassion and charisma, as someone always working on something new and exciting, and for her fiercely energetic spirit. Her last wishes were that everyone may share their peace and love with the world around them.