In Memoriam : Norma Sawyer

Norma Z. Sawyer - age: 74
(September 25, 1943 to January 07, 2018 )
Resident of Exeter, California

Visitation Information:
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 9:30 am at the Evans Miller Guinn Chapel.

Obituary:
Norma Jean Thrasher was born in Exeter, CA to Susie Fisher, a homemaker and Albert
Thrasher, who was a police officer, she had sisters, Carolyn, Dean and Brother Darrell. She
attended Exeter High School. Norma was always a beautiful woman, outgoing, had a zest for
life and made friends very easily.
She was a country girl through and through, loved country music and wow, could that girl dance!
She met and married Don Sawyer in 1963 and were married for 52 years until his death on May
26, 2015. They had 2 much loved sons, Darin and Rodney who were the apples of her eye.
Norma was a devoted mother and no one messed around with her boys that didn’t come face to
face with her! As you can imagine, nothing thrilled her more than the arrival of her
grandchildren: Chelsea, Samantha, Briana and Stone. She loved her family more than anything
on this earth. She gave her whole heart to them and devoted her entire life to loving and caring
for all of them.
Norma worked at Exeter Clinic, where she worked in the medical field and was a partner in a
House Cleaning business with her great-niece, Chrishell Hutchings. Among her friends were
neighbors, “The Sisters” and friends from Band times with husband and GalPals, these two work
endeavors also laid claim to many of her lifelong and heartfelt friendships. She was a fabulous
friend to all of those she held close to her heart and called Friend.
Norma was an example of what love in action looks like. She loved people and had a passion
for helping others less fortunate than herself. On Christmas Day you could find her serving
Christmas supper at the Visalia Rescue Mission, on cold days it was second nature for her to
give food, jackets, gloves, scarves and blankets to the homeless, the cold, and the needy. Her
heart of kindness and mercy amazed all who knew her.
In recent years, Norma converted to Catholicism wholeheartedly and faithfully. She loved the
time spent at St. Anthony Church in Three Rivers. With her failing health, the weekly visits and
Communion with Father Rod, Sister Sharon and Sister Nancy meant everything to her. We are
forever in your debt.
Norma passed away peacefully on January 7, 2018 after being hospitalized with complications
of Wegener’s Granulomatosis. I can honestly say she was an example to us of what loving
others looked like and knowing her made us better people.
Norma is survived by her son Rodney, grandchildren Chelsea, Samantha, Briana and Stone,
daughter-in-law Cathy, sister Dean, multiple nieces and nephews, cousins, as well as many
grand nieces and grand nephews, regrettably too many to mention here by name. Just know
she loved you all and knew her life was made better with you in it and the time you spent with
her while she was ill was priceless.
Happy Homecoming Celebration, Norma!