Norma Mitchell

Norma Leihy Mitchell was born in May 1920 in Bishop, Calif., and died Thursday, July 5, 2012. She was adopted by Bertram and Ida Leihy when she was nine months old and moved to Tustin, Calif. In 1935, her family moved to Santa Maria, where she attended and graduated from Santa Maria High School. It was there she met Lewis Mitchell, the love of her life. Norma then graduated from Santa Maria Junior College. She married Lewis in 1940 and waited with her daughter, Judy, in Santa Maria while Lewis went to war. Norma and Lewis moved to Arroyo Grande in 1950 and Norma started teaching at Arroyo Grande High school in 1953. She went back to school in 1957 and was one of the first four women to be admitted to Cal Poly. She graduated from Cal Poly and taught various subjects in schools throughout the county. She always said working with junior high students was her favorite. She retired in 1970 from a counseling position at Lewis Avenue Junior High School in Atascadero. Upon her retirement, Norma served on the Arroyo Grande Cemetery Board, the Boys and Girls Club and acted as a counselor in the Cardiac Rehab Department at Arroyo Grande Hospital. She also taught knitting, crocheting and quilting classes. Norma was a great piano player and played and sang at several churches throughout her life. She received her minister''s license and conducted several weddings and funerals. She was 85 when she performed her last marriage ceremony, and 87 when she last conducted a memorial service. Her husband, Lewis, departed this world in 2006, just a few months shy of their 65th anniversary. After he passed away, Norma moved into Wyndham Residence. There, she played the piano every day and participated in all of their activities. She was known as "Norma the Nailer" in their shuffleboard circles. Norma is survived by her daughter Judy Dunn (Jim); granddaughters Kim Quinlan (Dave) and Heather Victorino (Dave); great-grandchildren Jason Maroney (Jennifer), Corey Maroney (Sarah), Matthew Victorino and Olivia Victorino; and great-great grandson, Dayne Maroney. She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Lewis Mitchell. A family celebration of Norma''s life will be held at a later date. Donations can be made to the local food bank. Marshall-Spoo 489-5552 Grover Beach