Norma Gail Holmes Yocom

Norma Gail Holmes Yocom (1932-2026) began an adventurous journey and never stopped. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Bill and Sylvia Holmes, she was one of the older children in a family of seven children. She milked cows and took care of other animals but still had time to be herself. She walked the ridge of the barn and boxed with her brother, Bob.

While attending Cyprus High School, she was the first girl to take shop and according to the teacher, she outperformed any other student he had had in the workshop. She wanted to take auto mechanics but was told to do so she needed to have a full class of just girls. She was also part of the Civil Air Patrol and flew a plane transporting supplies around Utah.

She met Keith Holder Yocom and they married on August 20, 1951. He was in the U.S. Navy, and soon they were of on their journey together starting in Southern California. They had five children: Marsha, Scott, Debra, Martin, and Daniel. A couple of her grand adventures, other than being with her family, included driving to and from Alaska and spending 6 weeks in Australia with her husband. The two of them were together for 61 years, Keith passed away from mesothelioma. But the loss of her travelling partner didn’t slow her own.

She continued to see the country and the world with friends and family. For her there wasn’t a difference between friends and family. If you were invited into her home, included on any trip, or participated in any party, you were included as family. She counted the children who came into the family by marriage as grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, they were always included.

Her later years included more travel, like the Mediterranean, Greenland, and Iceland. But she also kept an adventurous side that was uniquely hers. For her 80th birthday she zip-lined Provo canyon. Years after that she completed a ropes obstacle course at the top of a cruise ship. She said the only items she didn’t get to mark off her bucket list were skateboarding and skydiving. She tried to go skydiving, but there was a ridiculous age limit of 65, she was over 85 at the time.

Her continuous sense of adventure, fun, and looking for the positive in others has led family and friends to say, “I want to be like Gail, when I grow up.” She was an example of growing up, without growing old.

In lieu of flowers Gail would like you to spend your time, energy, and resources with your family and those in need and have fun doing so.

Funeral Services will be held

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Valley View Funeral Home

4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah

1:00 pm: Visitation

1:30 pm: Services