Norma Shaklovitz

Norma Louise Fredrickson Shaklovitz passed away peacefully Saturday, April 1, 2017 due to natural causes.
Mrs. Shaklovitz who was born January 10, 1931, in Galveston, Texas, was a true Texan and resided her entire life within the state. Her parents were Ora Louise (Holt) and Albert Bernard Fredrickson, a Galveston Motorcycle Police officer who was killed in the line of duty when Norma was two years old. This tragedy guided her in a life of being a kind and caring person. Her mother later re-married to Edward Charles Gilmore, Sr. and produced the first loves of her life, brother Edward (Eddie) Gilmore Jr. and her sister Marilyn Ann (Gilmore) Crump. Norma graduated from Galveston Ball High School in 1947 at 16 years old which was an early sign of her determination. After attending business school in Galveston, she started working for the Santa Fe Railroad, where she would work throughout her life until retiring. She worked in the dispatchers' office in Temple and Euless, Texas where she had her second family she loved dearly. While working for the Santa Fe in Galveston, she met William J. (Willie) Shaklovitz who became her life-long partner and loving husband on June 21, 1951. The couple lived in Galveston until 1965 when the Santa Fe closed their Galveston depot, and they decided to move the family they had made to Temple, Texas. The family which included the pride and joy of Norma's life, her three sons, William A. (Bill) Shaklovitz of Hockley, Texas and Richard L. (Rick) and David P. (Dave) Shaklovitz both currently living in Temple, Texas.

Throughout Norma's life, she loved her family and its endeavors. She took an absence from her Santa Fe career, to lead the boys' education, their participation in sports which was one of her greatest joys, and their development of their own families and careers. She was the guiding light for the boys and dedicated her life to their health and happiness. Through the years, she amassed an entire army of boys and girls, men and women that knew her as their second mother with her big smile and warm hugs. She enriched her sons, her friends and family members' lives passionately until her passing.

She was the kindest and caring person with a lifetime of volunteering for the March of Dimes, the American Heart Association, the Shiners' Hospital, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and the American Cancer Foundation. She was a member of the Dawson Chapter of the American Business Woman's Association where she met and enjoyed many of her Temple area friends. She served as the Secretary, and was the local "Women of the Year" for 1980-81 because of her dedication and participation. After her 33-year career with the Santa Fe Dispatchers Office, one never to be idle for long, she went to work for the law office of family friend, Tim Mahler, for an additional ten years.

After the passing of Willie in February 1995, she continued to lead the family's activities including the family farm in east Bell county. The family farm was an important part of her life and to the development of an important family project. Norma was a movie buff, a music lover and a wealth of knowledge in a wide-variety of worldly information. She loved Jeopardy, working crossword puzzles and family lore. Also, she was a sports fan and enjoyed football, baseball, and NASCAR.

There will be a Celebration of Norma's life at the Christ Episcopal Church in Temple, Texas on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 1:30 PM. Mrs. Shaklovitz is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law, Lisah Shaklovitz, her brother Eddie and his wife Virginia Gilmore of Bryan, Texas, sister Marilyn Crump of Webster, Texas, Dorothy (Shaklovitz) Cusick and husband George of Galveston, Texas, three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. The family asks in lieu of flowers, any donations be sent to any of the above listed charities or the Galveston Police Memorial Foundation.

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