Norma U. Lape

Norma Uvanna Lape, 82, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 8:24 a.m. on Friday, November 13, 2026, in HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital, Shelbyville, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville IL with her daughter, Rev. Susan Burnett, officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Hubbartt Cemetery, near Beecher City, IL. Memorials may be given to Rivers of Living Water Fellowship Church, near DeSoto, IL.

Norma was born on January 26, 1944, in Oconee, IL, the daughter of Claude and Mildred (Merkin) Downs. She went to high school in Shelbyville and Pana and later attended Eastern Illinois University. For over 30 years Norma worked for Shelby County Community Services in Shelbyville, beginning as a soil lab technician and retiring as a teacher/instructor. She was also a skilled artist, specializing in oil painting. Norma was affiliated with her daughter’s church, Rivers of Living Water Fellowship Church in DeSoto, IL. She married Leonard “Max” Lape, and he passed away on October 24, 2017.

She is survived by her three daughters, Pamela Cothern (Kevin) of Strasburg, IL, Susan Burnett (Brad) of Hurst, IL, and Angela Jesse (Mike) of Shelbyville, IL; four grandchildren, Brooke Lowe, Uvanna Arview (Jay), Wehnasha Morrison, and Laura Reed (Justin); and two great grandchildren, Joseph Arview and Carter Reed.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Max; daughter, Sherri Rae Phillips; grandson, Jason Navis; and sister, Grace Motts.