February 23, 1927 - October 12, 2022
Norma Clay was born February 1927 in East Long Meadow, Massachusetts. She was the fourth of five children and grew up during the Great Depression, which had a lasting impact on her throughout her life.
In May of 1944, Norma attended nursing school for the US Army in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated in 1948 and continued her education to earn her bachelor's degree in Nursing, graduating alongside her oldest daughter, Donna, in the 1990’s.
With the war over and no available nursing jobs on the East Coast, she and four of her fellow graduates rode the California Zephyr to San Joaquin County. They not only began their new nursing careers but also enjoyed many adventures together.
While working at San Joaquin General Hospital, she met and married Doyle Clay and together they had four children. David (Dorothy), twins Doyle (Shelley) and Donna (Rocky), and Diane (Mario). They were blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
During her long nursing career, she worked for more than twenty years at Dameron Hospital where she served as Head Nurse of the Burn Unit, a job she took great pride in. She then semi-retired and worked in home health care while helping to raise four of her rambunctious grandsons.
Norma took great pleasure traveling across the world, often sharing those experiences with family and friends, particularly her sister Jean. She especially enjoyed time at the beach and would often be found silently orchestrating the waves from the shore.
A two-time breast cancer survivor-once in her forties and again in her eighties-Norma was a symbol of strength, courage, and determination to all around her. She also served as an example of great love and support to her family, friends, patients, and strangers alike.
Norma passed away peacefully in her home on October 12, 2022. It has been said she lived and died on her own terms.
SERVICES:
We will be honoring this spectacular woman on Friday December 2, 2022, at 1:00 pm. Services will be held at Cherokee Memorial Park (Highway 99 and Harney Lane) in the Evergreen Chapel. She will be laid to rest with her beloved grandson, Adam Beck, by her side.
They will be missed, always loved and never forgotten.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Hospice of San Joaquin, the Butterfly Auxiliary-Hospice of San Joaquin, or to your preferred charity.