Norma Jean Hamilton
Norma Jean Hamilton, 92, died March 28, 2015, at Manor of the Plains in Dodge City. She was born on October 1, 1922 in rural Ford County, the daughter of Albert and Beatrice (Mollett) Lembright. On December 21, 1941 she married Dean Hamilton. He preceded her in death on March 11, 1998. Norma Jean lived most of her life on the farm until 2008, when she moved to Manor of the Plains.
The Majority of her working years she was a homemaker. After graduating from Dodge City High School she worked at the local ASCS office called Triple A. While Dean was stationed with the Marines in San Diego, she was a sewing instructor at Singer Sewing Machine in San Diego. She worked as a bookkeeper for 18 Years for the rural gas line entity. Her hobbies included sewing, reading, genealogy, and playing board and card games.
She was an active lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church in Dodge City, where she taught an elementary Sunday School Class. Norma Jean was also active in the W.S.C.S. Circle and United Methodist Women and held offices in these organizations. She was a charter member of the Richland Boosters 4-H Club and later a community and project leader and served as a leader for many years. During this time she earned a National 4-H Alumni Award in 1956. In 1975 she was a Kansas Mother of the year. Dean and Norma Jean were awarded the Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker Award in 1981. She was a member of the Ash Grove and Excelsior Extension Club, Ken-wan-ne Extension Club, Craft Club and the West Hopewell Extension Club.
Norma Jean is survived by her children, Carol Jean Martin and husband J.D. of Sharon, Ken Hamilton and wife Gloria of Sun City, California, Louise Tegarden and husband Terry, Nancy Hampton, and Terry Hamilton and wife Nancy all of Dodge City; grandchildren, Mike Davis of Montezuma, Nathan Davis of Attica, Todd Hamilton of Dodge City, Master Sergeant Travis Hamilton of Okinawa, Japan, Sarah Hampton and Luke Hampton both of Wichita, Jessica Hampton of Lawrence, Tony Hamilton of Afghanistan, and Miranda (Hamilton) Wagoner of Wichita; eight great grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, 20 step-great grandchildren, and six step-great great granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Norval Lembright.
Funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Lance Carrithers presiding. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 from Noon to 8:00 PM with the family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Kansas 4-H foundation, First United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.
