January 6, 1935 - July 5, 2020
A private graveside service will be held.
Longtime Willamina resident Norma Blackwell passed away at Cherrywood Memory Care Center in McMinnville on Sunday, July 5, 2020 at the age of 85. Alzheimer’s was never able to steal Norma’s joy for life. Her positive and upbeat personality and her quick wit and smile lit up a room with laughter and fun. Her short stature earned her the endearing nickname of “Little Grandma” with her grand children and great grand children who considered growing taller than her to be a milestone in their young lives. Her “short hugs” were actively sought out during greeting time at church each Sunday.
Norma was born January 6, 1935 in McMinnville, OR. The daughter of Inez and Walter Buswell, she was raised and educated in the Willamina area. Norma was very involved in high school clubs, sports and the cheerleading squad. She especially enjoyed playing volleyball which was a passion she continued to pursue well into her adult years with several of her closest friends on a local town team. Their team trip to Hawaii was the source of fond memories for her.
Norma married her high school sweetheart, Carl Blackwell on June 4, 1951. Carl served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War while Norma stayed home with family to complete her high school education. After Carl’s tour of duty, he and Norma raised their 4 children, Tim, Dennis, Scott and Sherri. In addition to being a full time Mom and a frequent volunteer in local civic and school activities, Norma worked a variety of part time jobs including as a waitress at the Hi-Spot Restaurant and selling tickets, soda pop, and popcorn at the Gay Way Theatre as well as pointing flash lights at mischievous teenagers as an usher. She loved doing crafts such as tole painting and learned to put her artistic flair to work decorating cakes, including preparing her younger sister Wallie’s wedding cake.
Norma loved adorning her home with treasures found while frequenting garage sales and second hand stores that could be incorporated into her ever-changing theme rooms. Who can forget the Spanish themed living room soon to be the Asian themed living room soon to be the Early American Colonial themed living room? Her husband Carl often tried to hide the newest editions of home decorating magazines as they arrived by bulk in the mail each month. Norma loved family camping trips, family reunions and traveling to Port Angeles, WA to visit extended family and enjoy eating fresh crab and salmon along the beach. During one of those trips, she and Carl experienced the Seattle World’s Fair together in 1962. She was an enthusiastic spectator at her children’s and grand children’s ball games, offering coaching tips and distinctive vocal support from the sidelines. The grand children loved spending time with Grandma Norma and Grandpa Carl whenever possible.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband Carl, her son Dennis and his wife Cheryl, her parents Inez and Walt Buswell, brother Robert “Bud” Buswell, and sister Nancy Smith. Surviving are her sons Tim and Scott, daughter Sherri Mendenhall, sister Wallie Chapman, 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
A private graveside ceremony will be held at Buck Hollow Cemetery in Willamina at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 11, 2020. Due to concerns related to the COVID-19 virus the service is being limited to immediate family members only. Norma’s family would like to express our gratitude to extended family and friends for their understanding of these arrangements being prudent in these unprecedented times.
