NORMA CROUCH continued from 55
Wendell remembers how she carried accounts for those on monthly incomes. So, Norma also became the community banker.
Norma was a good soul. She was generous, friendly, and giving— a good neighbor.
Crouch’ s closed on November 30, 2015, and an auction was held the next year, selling off all those plumbing and electrical parts, along with the picnic tables and table cloths, hats and T-shirts emblazoned with the store’ s name. I saw Norma a few years later in Columbus, and it seemed a little of her spark was gone. My guess is that spark came partly from the interactions she had with her customers, friends, and neighbors.
Wendell also remembers the kids who hung out at the store in the 1970s, many of whom showed up for her funeral, still a tight group 40 years later.
“ Essentially, the community became an extended family for her,” he said.
As for the store itself, Wendell says there’ s no chance it will reopen, given the way things
are nowadays, with the Wal Ma, Amazon, and the prevalence of the internet. And that doesn’ t just go for Crouch’ s. Little general stores in the middle of rural areas selling a little bit of everything are rare now.
“ I don’ t think there will ever be another Crouch’ s Market,” Wendell said.
And so we lose a little community and a little of the light that came with it. Rest in peace, Norma. •
58 Our Brown County March / April 2022