Dr. Norma Jean Blair Gilmore passed away on a stormy morning June 4, 2024, eleven weeks after her 100th birthday parties. She was born at home on a stormy night, March 16, 1924, in Mancelona, Michigan to Glen and Olive (Tinker) Blair. The doctor was just home from a call, he had wiped his team down and did not want to take them out in the storm again. He asked if the midwife was there. She was and she delivered the newborn.
Norma attended schools in Mancelona through the 10th grade. Her father was transferred to the USFS Regional Office in Albuquerque where she graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1943. She attended Scripps College for Women, Claremont, CA her freshman year (1943-44). She next attended two semesters at Arizona State Teachers College, Flagstaff, AZ. She returned home to Albuquerque and attended University of New Mexico until her father retired, and they moved back to Mancelona, MI. There Norma married Douglas Gilmore, Army Air Corps, Dec. 28, 1945.
She started her teaching career in a one room schoolhouse in Happy Jack, Arizona before she had even received her Bachelor’s degree. She remarked it took her 12 years, one husband, and four children to receive her B.S. degree from Arizona State College in Flagstaff AZ, 1956. Later, she received her M.A, and Ph.D. in Education from Michigan State University, East Lansing, and an Ed.D. in Special Education and Administration from University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. She also was a student in the first Craniosacral classes taught by Dr. John Upledger, Michigan State University, in 1979. From these classes she went on to do Craniosacral work for 35 years helping innumerable people.
Norma also enjoyed traveling the world including India, Greece, Egypt, Ecuador, Scotland and Europe. For four years, she and a friend enrolled for summer workshops at St. Andrews College, Scotland where she studied and putted on the Women’s Putting Green of The Old Golf Course. She was selected by Marcus Publications as a Who’s Who in American Education, 1994-1995 and a Who’s Who in American Women in 1999-2000. Norma, Wife, Mother, Scout Leader, PTA, Church Elder, participated in Parent activities at the Institute of Logopedics, Wichita, KS, Teacher, K-4, Educational Consultant in Boulder, CO, Researcher for a project at Central Michigan University, Director of Special Education, for Mountain BOCS, Leadville, CO. and S. Platte Valley BOCES, Ft. Morgan, CO., Asst. Director of Special Education, Lansing Public Schools, MI, and College professor at Peru State College, NE and Western State College, Gunnison, CO. She was state president of the Colorado Council for Exceptional Children 1979-80. Norma retired eight times during which she was an Adjunct professor at Northern Arizona University and Central Michigan University, taking time to enjoy her cottage and grandchildren, but every so often returned to work.
She moved to Hamilton in 2003 to be close to family and the next year she supervised student teachers for the University of Montana. She, with former Supt. Orville Getz, developed the Visual-motor-CST program at Victor School, and worked with the volunteers on the program, as well as part-time at TLC Bodyworks in Hamilton. In 2010 she published a book entitled “Get Ready, Set, Go and Read.”
She is a member of DAR, Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Chapter: Leona Chapter. 31 OES; PEO, Chapter AF, and the First Presbyterian Church where she served as an Elder. She was a member of the International Platform Association founded by Josiah Holbrook and Daniel Webster which met annually in Washington D.C. where she gave a variety of speeches. She was the first woman hired by a BOCES in CO as a Director of Special Education in 1973, and the oldest BOCES Director of Special Education to retire at age 78 in 2001.
She is survived by her three sons: George, of Hamilton, Jim of Victor, Glenn (Sita) of Corvallis, 10 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren who reside all over the world. She will be laid to rest in the family plot next to her daughter, Anne, in the Corvallis Cemetery.
As you can see Norma had a very full life. This is only a snippet of her accomplishments. She was always working to help others and to give children a chance to learn, read and succeed.
The family would like to thank Kathy Beaulac and Ruth Cook for their help and friendship with Norma, Bitterroot Health Hospice, and Robert and Vickie Moss who gave excellent care to her at their West Hills Assisted Living Center.
In lieu of gifts and flowers the family would suggest donating to a public education directed charity in her memory. A graveside service will be held Friday, June 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Corvallis Cemetery. Please have a story to share. Arrangements made by Daly-Leach Funeral Home in Hamilton.