June 7, 1926 – Feb. 12, 2016
Norma Jean Metzer, 89, of Sweet Home died Feb. 12, 2016.
She was born June 7, 1926 in Trenton, Neb. to Earnest Fay and Hazel Alice (Woods) Thomas.
She lived in Trenton for 20 years, then moved to Homedale, Idaho. In Homedale she met and married Ardell John Metzer Sr.
Their family moved around, following work for a few years, then settled in Oakridge for three years before moving to Sweet Home.
The Metzers lived here from 1961 to 1983. In 1982 Mr. Metzer died and Mrs. Metzer moved back to Trenton in 1983. In 2000 she moved back to Eagle, Idaho until 2005, when she moved to Sweet Home.
She has lived in Sweet Home since then.
Mrs. Metzer was a homemaker. She became a Christian when she was baptized in 1982. She was a member of Highway 20 Church of Christ. She was a member of the VFW and was a lifetime member of Eastern Star.
She enjoyed camping, fishing, painting ceramics, crocheting and reading. She canned and put up food for the winters. She enjoyed playing pinochle with her pinochle club and also played bingo with her neighbors.
She loved family gatherings, playing pinochle and other games with her family and friends.
Mrs. Metzer is survived by her children, Ardell John Metzer Jr. of Richland, Wash., Lynda Ann Gilbertson of Kennewick, Wash., Earnest Roy and daughter-in-law LaMona Williamson of Klamath Falls, David Paul Williamson of Sweet Home, Richard Eugene and daughter-in-law Donna Metzer of Meridian, Idaho, and Sandra Lee and son-in-law Edgar Seiber of Sweet Home; 19 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and 26 great- great-granchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ardell John Metzer Sr.; brothers Robert “Tom” Thomas, Donald Thomas; and sisters Pauline Tramell and Dorothy Hall.
Viewing will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb.19, with a funeral following at 11 a.m., both at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.
Final burial will be at Gilliland Cemetery.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.