She was born in Ellicott, Colorado June 19, 1923 to Poole and Rhoda Johnson and was the eldest of three girls.
Norma met Billy Bates and married April 16, 1946 and they lived in Ellicott and Calhan before moving to California in 1953 where she lived out the rest of her years as a loving wife of 67 years and mother to Thomas Charles Bates.
Norma enjoyed being a part of her husband, Billy’s, orchid club and helped with their miniature wildlife jewelry business. They also enjoyed going to orchid and jewelry shows.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband Billie Bates, their son Thomas Bates and their infant twins Charlette and Louis and her sister Emma Jean Dell.
She is survived by her sister, Rhoda Joan Harding and four nieces: Debra Jo Bradley (Mark), Sharon Harding-Shaw (Terry), Sue Roth (Craig), Vicki Gehri (Mark) and many other cousins, nieces and family.
A private service to be held at a later date.
