Norma Ruth Peterson
November 02, 1940 - May 07, 2008
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Norma Ruth Peterson
November 02, 1940 - May 07, 2008
Obituary
Norma Hicks Peterson
Norma Peterson of Laguna Hills, CA died after a very short battle against pancreatic cancer on May 7, 2008. Norma was born Nov. 2, 1940 in Sweet Home, Texas. She was the youngest of six children born to Roy and Vera Hicks. The Hicks family lived in Manteca, CA, where Norma began kindergarten in 1946 and graduated from Manteca High School in 1958.
Norma married Tammy’s father in 1959 and moved to Lancaster, CA in 1963. She began her career as a travel agent while living in Lancaster. Over the next thirty years she worked in various travel agencies and Boeing Aircraft Co. Travel Department before moving to Orange County, CA, where she became a travel tour director with Good Times Travel. She loved traveling and became exceptional in her field of expertise.
Norma enjoyed many sports, especially tennis, bowling, scuba diving, water skiing, snow skiing, jet skiing, bicycling, walking, jazzercize, line and swing dancing and became an avid golfer in the last few years. She always enjoyed a full and active life.
Norma traveled extensively around the world but also enjoyed her home and family. Her first priority in her life has always been her daughter Tammy. She loved her more than life itself and brought her up at a time when single moms had a hard time earning a living.
Later in life, Norma became good friends with her stepchildren Patricia and David and their spouses. Norma’s ten grandchildren were her shining stars. She was a proud grandma, a loving mother, and a wonderful sister and aunt. Her smiles brightened our world when she came into it. Her laughter will be remembered long after she’s gone. Norma came into the world a bright star and left the world a better place. She will be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her daughter, Tamara Chapman; stepdaughter, Patricia Smith and her husband Scott; stepson, David Peterson and his wife Linda; 10 grandchildren: Michael Smith, Tawnya Chapman, David Smith, Tara Chapman, Katie Peterson, Travis Chapman, Brody Peterson, Emily Peterson, Ryan Peterson and Kelly Peterson; brother, Lee Roy Hicks; and 4 sisters: Christine Hubbard, Evie Konecny, Arlene Watson, and Bettie Thompson.
26 responses to Norma Ruth Peterson
Janet Byrum says:
May 15, 2008
Dearest Tammy, Evie, Betty , Arlene and family members,
We all loved Norma and will miss her so much. I have such wonderful travel memories of us together. I remember the first day that we met. Tammy was giving birth to Tanya. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you now.
Melanie Crawford says:
May 15, 2008
For me, it has only been possible to accept Norma”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢s death because I ask myself, “°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã…”What if I had never met her at all?”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Â The answer is clear.
What a gift she is to me. I have never, in all my travels, met a woman more impressive. It wasn”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢t obvious right away, because Norma was so unpretentious. I don”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢t think she had the slightest idea that she was so special. That was part of it. Norma was charming, poised, gracious, delightfully humorous and deeply kind. Add to that her beauty and style”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?.there are simply so few that have all that, so one doesn”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢t know what it looks like.
And I cannot accept that I must use the past tense. I have a picture of Norma in a prominent place and I believe that by inviting her to “°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã‹Å“visit”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢ in spirit, all that she was, is still with me and always will be. So, using the past tense doesn”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢t seem necessary.
I”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢ve met maybe 1,000 women through my former occupation & life and never has one been so immediately & deeply special from the moment I came into her presence. She had a “°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã‹Å“glow”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢ and a “°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã‹Å“sweetness”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢ that evoked a fond embrace.
We met only last October at Doug”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢s line dancing class. She was the prettiest one and knew all the steps. What a doll she was to try to teach me”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?.over and over. Line dancing for me is a lost cause. After a while, we cut the class to go for a glass of wine. Our friendship shot up like a geyser. We recognized kindred spirits and agreed that it felt like we were “°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã…”sisters for life”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢. I treasure the times we shared”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?.we had so much to talk about, so much in common.
We agreed that she would visit my Bed & Breakfast in upstate New York as soon as possible. She would have loved it there. I can picture the memories we were to make. In addition, she was pivotal in reasons why I would want to come back to Laguna Woods.
There is a big empty space in my life where our friendship was meant to reside. I will often miss the beauty of it, the laughter, all we were meant to teach each other, all we were meant to share, and all we were meant to support one another through. I am sorry she will not meet other friends of mine, who would have also benefited from knowing her.
Like many of you, I am angry that I can not have her in my life. But I have to readily admit it is for selfish reasons. I needed to learn from her and I wanted to enjoy her lovely spirit. Instead, I am now left to create all that for myself if I want to have Norma in my life.
I know she is in a glorious place, happier that she”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢s ever been, no matter how many people loved her here. She looks down on us and I”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢m almost certain she”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢d like to say”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?.
“°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã…”Please don”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢t be sad. Each one of you knows what we shared and that will never change”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?.no matter what. We will be together again and we will have wonderful times together. Please think only of that. I”°Ã¢”šÂ¬Ã¢”žÂ¢m in a wonderful place and I will wait for you. In the meantime, dance there for me”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?.take care of each other the way I would if I were there, and be kind to everyone you meet”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?..they may be me in costume. And remember always”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?”°Ã¢”šÂ¬?.I miss each of you as much as you miss me. “°Ã¢”šÂ¬Â
Cathy McCoy says:
May 22, 2008
Norma’s effervescent personality made her a pleasure to work with and a delight to be around. All who knew her were fortunate to have her in their lives.
Lee Roy/Judy Hicks says:
May 26, 2008
We will miss Norma so much. She was always there for her brother Lee Roy. Her beautiful smile filled the room and will always be remembered. We love you Norma.
Lee Roy and Judy
Raymond wytman says:
May 30, 2008
Norma was an elgent and glamourours lady she enjoyed life the to the fullest I shared many wonderful momunts with her and will miss her deeply she was my freind and love she will always be in my heart