Norma M. Thorne

Norma Thorne

River Heights: Norma M. Thorne, 94, passed away peacefully March 31, 2010. Norma Meyers was born in Ogden to Eleanor and Charles Meyers on May 22, 1915. Norma and her sister were raised in Ogden until moving to Brigham City at the age of ten. Norma attended Box Elder High School where she was an excellent student and active in student government. She was a brilliant typist at 160 words per minute with perfect spelling and was highly sought after for her typing skills.

Norma attended Weber College majoring in business, later to graduate from LDS Business College. Upon graduation she was employed by Ogden Defense Depot prior to World War II.

In 1936 she married her high school sweetheart James P. Thorne. They moved to Logan where he completed his degree at Utah State University. Upon graduation they followed his career with the US Forest Service to Ogden, Ephraim, and eventually back to Logan, where she began her employment with the Federal Government. Norma also spent an entire professional career in government service, first with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, then with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She ultimately retired from a position with the U.S.D.A. Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory at Utah State University, a position she had particularly enjoyed.

Norma was active in several clubs and especially enjoyed her position in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She served in various callings in the River Heights 2nd Ward and always enjoyed spending time with her neighbors and friends.

She loved her home in River Heights, especially her lilacs and iris garden. She enjoyed spending time working in her garden and admiring the fruits of her labors. She anticipated the local iris show each year, and worked hard to grow the perfect iris to display. She turned her River Heights yard into a showcase flower/vegetable garden each summer. And she loved birds and passed her knowledge of them on to children and grandchildren. Music was also a big part of Norma’s life and home. She loved to play the organ and filled her home with music. She loved being a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She will be missed by all of her loved ones.

She is survived by four sons and one daughter, James M. Thorne of Alpine, UT; Richard E. Thorne Las Vegas, NV; Larry R. Thorne (Nola) Pleasanton, CA; Lynnette ( Dell Loy) Hansen North Logan, UT; Steven W. Thorne (Delsa) North Logan, UT; 15 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, James P. Thorne; Sister, Ione Johansen; and Daughter-in-law, Kaye Hugie Thorne.

The funeral services will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 at Allen-Hall Mortuary Chapel. The viewing will be held from 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon prior to the service. Interment will be in the Providence City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net