Mary Norman, founder of Terry Home, died June 29 from emphysema and cancer.
“She was very well loved, very well liked and respected in the community,” said Pacific Mayor Leanne Guier, a member of the Terry Home board. “She’ll be greatly missed at Terry Home.”
Norman, born in Sibley, Iowa in 1942 to Clifford and Gertie Wells, graduated from Sibley High School in 1959 and married Junior “Sonny” Norman. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, Norman worked for the Sibley-Gazette Newspaper and was later a bookkeeper for Cenex. Once here, she started her own bookkeeping business.
In 1984 Norman’s life changed forever, when her son, Terry, was involved in a car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. After discovering that there was no place to put her 18-year-old son outside of a geriatric nursing home, Mary and her long-time friend and partner, James “Cec” Wilson, began a 10-year journey to build a home for young adults who had survived traumatic brain injuries.
The 10-bed facility opened in 1996 in Pacific.
In 2013, Terry Home opened its second facility, this time in Auburn for 12 or more young adult survivors, including housing for returning veterans.
From the beginning, Norman involved herself heavily in the day-to-day running of Terry Home. She served on the Terry Home Board as treasurer, and provided bookkeeping services for the organization.
“She was a very compassionate and giving person towards Terry Home,” Guier said. “I tell people I am very honored to have known such a selfless person.”
Norman was an active member of the Auburn Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, which she served as its secretary for several years. She could often be found at the Eagles club on Thursday nights, enjoying the ‘barstool’ bingo.
Mary was preceded in death by her long-time friend and partner, James “Cec” Wilson, her mother and father, and her granddaughter, Hailey.
She leaves two sons, Tim Norman of Kent and Terry Norman of Auburn, and a daughter Amanda Betsill of Austin, Texas.
Services are at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 5 at the Auburn Eagles at 702 M Street SE, Auburn, WA. In lieu of flowers, please make any memorials to Terry Home at PO Box 2209, Auburn, WA 98071.
Terry Home Show and Shine
The 22nd annual Terry Home Show and Shine car show fundraiser is Aug. 16 at Pacific Park at 600 3rd Ave. S.E. in Pacific. Registration for the show starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. Trophy presentation for vehicles starts at 3 p.m. Raffles, door prizes, vendors, a poker walk and children’s activities are on tap, and food and beverages will be served all day. Spectators get in free. For more information, call Tim Norman at 253-630-7657, or visit www.terryhomeinc.org.
