Norma Jean Best

Norma Jean Best, 95, lifelong Nevadan and a 42-year resident of Carson City, passed away on April 27, 2010.

Norma Jean was born to Fred and Flora Mills on August 26, 1914 in Little Falls, Minn. The youngest of six children (her siblings were Hester, Wayne, Ellen, Betty and Catherine), Norma Jean's family moved in 1918 to Fallon, where her third grade teacher was sister Hester and her eighth grade teacher was her cousin, Laura Mills. It was Laura who instilled in Norma Jean her love for wild flowers, botany and an appreciation for natural history.

Norma Jean met her future husband, Bob Best, on the first day of class in the fifth grade in Fallon. They were married on August 14, 1937, the same year she graduated from the University of Nevada.

The couple moved to Elko in 1938 where Bob was the science instructor for Elko High School. Bob supplemented his job by serving as a summer fireguard in Lamoille Canyon; the job afforded them the opportunity to live in a cabin supplied by the U.S. Forest Service.

In 1943, when Bob was named principal at Mineral County High School in Hawthorne, Norma Jean was a music instructor in the Hawthorne elementary schools and taught homebound students. She also volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader, served with the PTA, and helped organize the Community Presbyterian Church.

The Bests moved to Yerington in 1956, where Bob was named superintendent of schools for Lyon County. Norma Jean taught first grade at Yerington Elementary School. Her extracurricular activities included singing in the choir at Community United Methodist Church.

When Bob was promoted to associate superintendent of the Nevada Department of Education in 1968, the couple moved to Carson City, eventually settling in a home they built in Kings Canyon a year later. Norma Jean taught in Gardnerville and Carson City for three years before retiring in 1971.

She was a vital member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in each community in which she resided. During her years in Carson City, Norma Jean maintained strong ties with both her family and the community. She was a mainstay with the First Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, and a member of both the chancel and bell choirs.

Norma Jean was also an active member of the Desert Gardeners garden club. She served as a volunteer at the Carson Convalescent Center and helped build the Tahoe Rim Trail. Living in Carson City gave Norma Jean the opportunity to enjoy her recreational passion of hiking and backpacking in the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains and other nearby mountain ranges.

Norma Jean was preceded in death by Bob and their eldest daughter, Jean. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Wilson, and her son, David Best (and spouse Elizabeth Henley), both of Carson City; her three grandchildren, Dennis Wilson (and spouse Jamie) of Sparks, Patty Joyce (and spouse Robin) of Las Vegas and Mike Wilson (and spouse Annette Schlageter) of Austin, Texas; her sister-in-law, Caroline (Best) Kelley of Carson City; and eight great-grandchildren: Sarah, Kathryn and Ellen Wilson; Jillian and Miles Joyce; and Sydney McNamara, Summer and Kimberly Wilson.

A memorial service celebrating Norma Jean's life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Carson City at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2010. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the building fund of the First Presbyterian Church of Carson City or a charity of the donor's choice.