Norma Jean Feighner

Norma Jean Feighner was known as many things to many people. She was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew her best, Norma will be remembered as a very exceptional person.

Norma Jean was born on October 24, 1927 in Kenton, Ohio. She was the daughter of Mary Jane McLaughlin and William Newton Ellis. Norma Jean grew up in Kenton and Tiffin, Ohio.

Norma Jean was raised with six siblings. She had four sisters, Catherine, Mildred, Clara, and Rosemary, and two brothers, Arthur and William Jr. The oldest two were her half-sister and half-brother. Norma Jean was the closest to her half-sister Catherine (alias Kate). Norma Jean was usually involved in all sorts of activities with her siblings. She and her siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years.

As a young girl, Norma Jean had a number of interests. Like most children, she enjoyed playing and making up games. She was curious about the world around her and was often eager to explore it. In her spare time she liked music and took violin lessons. However, to Norma Jean, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with her friends.

A typical teenager, Norma Jean had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. She graduated from Columbia High School in 1947. She enjoyed some classes more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. Her least favorite class in high school was Ancient History. Her quote: "Who wanted to read about dead people?" The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs. Drinkwater.

On July 20, 1947, Norma Jean exchanged wedding vows with Norman Allen Feighner in Fremont, Ohio. On the back of their car had a sign that reads, "We're leaving. Watch Fremont grow." Empathic and loyal, Norma Jean was committed to making her new family happy.

Norma Jean worked hard to be a good mother to her children and she did her best to fulfill their needs. Norma Jean was blessed with three children, two sons, Michael and Keith, and one daughter, Charlene. Another blessing for Norma Jean was the gift of three grandchildren, Susan Marie Barrie, Tiffany Feighner, and Zoey Feighner.

Fortunately, Norma Jean enjoyed what she did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Norma Jean worked diligently and did her best to succeed in her career. In the years before her son Michael's birth, Norma Jean worked as a switch-board operator for a telephone company in Ohio. After her husband broke his leg when cutting down a tree on the property in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Norma Jean took on a job at Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara as a telephone switch-board operator. She was later hired by Lockheed-Martin in Sunnyvale, California and worked there for 24 years as a Repro-Clerk. Norma Jean always sought to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Norma Jean enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were traveling, photography, sewing, cooking, gardening, flower arrangements, bird watching, and dining out. She was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Norma Jean was a woman who took pride in upholding her beliefs. Politically, Norma Jean was a registered Democrat but also voted Republican. She never missed an election, and in her later years voted absentee.

Norma Jean’s faith was important to her. She was a member of the United Methodist Church. During that time, she volunteered for the choir and children's nursery.

Though she never set out to gain individual recognition, Norma Jean was given accolades for her many and varied accomplishments throughout her life. Some of her most prestigious awards included being named Employee of the Month in August of 1979. In 2007, Norma Jean won the Gold Metal for the fastest runner in the walker race at Heritage Estates in Livermore, California.

Norma Jean enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations. It was a chance for her to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new things. Norma Jean and family visited Michael when he was studying in Heidelberg, Germany where Michael served as travel agent, chauffeur, and interpreter. She also loved visiting friends and relatives in Ohio and Alberta, Canada. Some of her other favorite vacations included Florida, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean Cruise, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

As a child, Norma Jean had a small dog that was sadly killed when her father, coming home from work, had accidentally stepped on it. Another time she had a German Sheppard that spent nights in the basement out of the cold. The dog had gotten into a box of rat poison. This was her second tragic loss of a pet. She made sure her children did not relive that tragedy and had the enjoyment she had wished she had. Michael at the age of 4 had his first puppy. Later, Michael had a rabbit named Peter. Charlene at the age of ten had a Poodle name Michelle who had four puppies.

When Norma Jean’s retirement finally arrived in January 1990, she was well prepared. Even in retirement, Norma Jean continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. Norma Jean was active in her new community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered her.

Norma Jean passed away on December 1, 2013 at Meadows in Elk Grove, California. Norma Jean was first diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in January 2000. For months she had a very hard time accepting her diagnosis. The disease had its major affect on her mobility, less so on her memory and did not show symptoms of twitching. The past couple years she had increased trouble swallowing and in the last month had to cope with increased phlegm in her throat that eventually affected her lungs. The final cause of death was not Parkinson's per se, but respiratory failure.

Services will be held on December 10, 2013, at Oak Hill Memorial Park, at 300 Curtner Avenue from 1 to 3 PM. Actually Mom and Dad had purchased 4 plots back in 1959 from a door-to-door salesman. She will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Memorial Park in the Sunnyslope section.

Simply stated, Norma was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Norma leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Norma Jean Feighner.