Norma was born on May 13, 1929 in Louisville, KY to Herbert Hopkins and Mary Pearl Rake Hopkins. She had one sister, Shirley Mae Hopkins VanderMel, one brother, Herbert Elder Jr. (Buck), a step mother Anne Margaret Grigg Hopkins, and one step brother Brian Charles Bergstrom. Her family's home was near Churchills Downs, which gave her a love for the sport of Horse Racing. The family relocated to Whitter in Southern California when she was 5.
Norma married John Richard "Dick" Lewis of Long Beach, California on December 27, 1951 and moved away with him to Pensacola, Florida where he was a pilot in the Navy. After his service, the couple settled in Chowchilla, California in 1957. They farmed and raised their children Jeffery John, Richard Clay and Jeanne Lynn.
Norma spent 22 years working at the Chowchilla Hospital until she retired as the hospital administrator in 1990. In 1999, Norma and Dick permanently moved to Homer, Ak where they enjoyed halibut fishing, seafood, watching moose walk through their yard and hosting family at their home throughout the summer.
Norma is preceded in death by her father Herb Hopkins, mother Mary Hopkins, step mother Anne Hopkins, sister Shirley VanderMel ( husband Paul of City of Industry, CA), brother Buck Hopkins (wife Debbie of Scottsdale, AZ), daughter Janet Lewis and son Jeff Lewis ( wife Terry Lewis of Chowchilla, CA).
Norma is survived by her husband Dick Lewis of Homer, AK, son Clay Lewis ( wife Lori Lewis of Bieber, CA), daughter Jeanne Breshears ( husband Michael Breashears, Sr. of Chowchilla, CA), grandchildren Jeffery John Lewis of Italy, Phillip Ray Vaught ( wife Mikayla Vaught of Chowchilla, Ca), Michael Dan Breashears, Jr. ( wife Sara Breshears of chowchilla, CA), Will Kyle Lewis of Bieber, CA, Jake Austin Lewis of Champaign, IL and Nathan Robert Gilaspy of Honolulu, HI. Granddaughter's Kayla Michelle Vaught of Ketchikan, AK, Lindsay Renea Breshers of Kirkland, WA, Katie Lewis Tonn ( husband Justin Tonn of Mount Hope, KS), and Ashley Rae Gilaspy of Chowchilla, CA. Great Grandchildren, Ella Rae Breshers, Hailey Isabella Breashears, Hudson Michael Breashears, Axel Ray Vaught, Clay John Vaught, Arabella Rose Tonn, Wyatt Daniel Guthrie, Waylon Kenneth Guthrie and a baby girl due to Phillip and Mikayla later this year.
Services will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Chowchilla Cemetery. Please send flowers to Dignity Memorial 140 South 6th Street, Chowchilla, California 93610.
