Norma Taylor

During a blizzard that occurred on February 11th 1915, Norma Loreen Bach was born at a homestead near Williston, North Dakota. She was the second of seven children born to Glenn R. and Stenna (Bowen) Bach. Her father was a veterinarian and their close relationship encouraged her to develop an early and lifelong love for animals, particularly a long succession of dogs she owned over the years. When she was six the family moved to Olympia, Washington where she attended school and developed many close friends; together they affectionately became known as the "Central Street Gang". At Olympia High School, she became an acclaimed musician, playing her beloved French horn competitively at state competitions. In 1933, she was married to Everett Lightbody and this union was blessed with three children: Robert E. Lightbody, Bettie L. Manning, and Richard E. Lightbody. In 1941, she moved to Sunnyside, Washington where she resided until 1965, attending the First Methodist Church. During this period she married Alonzo Taylor and gave birth to one child, James A. Taylor. Soon thereafter, she became an accomplished artist, exceling at painting and flower arranging. In 1965, she moved to Richland, Washington where she attended the Richland Alliance Church and resided in the same house until her death at the age of ninety-seven. During this period, she developed a deep affection for the Hawaiian Islands, returning yearly with family while winter conditions prevailed in the Tri-Cities. In her later years, she devoted countless hours to acquiring and organizing family photos and other information in order to document, for ages to come, the rich history of her large extended family. She renewed her faith many years ago through a Billy Graham telecast; and from that time on prayed daily for the needs of both family and friends. Her faith in God was evident on her final evening as she quoted John 3:16, meditated for a moment, and commented "God did that". She then joyfully exclaimed "I'm saved"! She possessed an emphatic love for her family which led to the nurturing of her four children and, in time, thirteen grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, and ten great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Edgar and Glenn, her sister Beverly, her granddaughter Shana, and her great-grandson Daniel. Her surviving siblings are her sisters June Hill and Sharon Romas, and brother Earl Bach. She passed away on March 5th, 2012 at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, Washington with family at her side. Norma worked unusually hard throughout her entire life and, while we all miss her dearly, we gain solace in the knowledge she has been granted eternal rest in the hands of her Lord.

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