Norma Grace Payne Thoms

Norma Grace Payne Thoms, 79, of Cambria, went peacefully to sleep Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at French Hospital, surrounded by her friends and family. Norma Grace Payne was born in May 1931 to Carey and Edna P. Payne in Ulysses, Neb. She met the love of her life, Robert Dean Thoms, while working as a hair dresser in Nebraska. After a short courtship, they were married December 7, 1952, and moved to Southern California, where they became vary active as Jehovah''s Witnesses. After vacationing in Cambria for many years, in 1994 they finally decided to move to there permanently. Norma was a prolific poetess with several of her poems published in the Tribune. She was not shy and knew no strangers. She loved everyone, seeing only the good in all she met. Her laugh was contagious and with her quick wit and great sense of humor, she kept you laughing with her many stories and poems. She was an inspiration to those that knew and loved her. Her strong faith in Jehovah comforted her through her many trails and strengthened her to boldly share that faith with others. She may have been small in stature, but she was strong of will. Norma is survived by her husband, Robert D. Thoms of Cambria; and son, Carey P. Thoms of South Carolina. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah''s Witnesses, 2689 Main St. in Cambria, with a celebration of her life to follow at the Joslyn Recreation Center, 950 Main St. in Cambria.