Obituary of Norma Ann Cameron

Norma Ann Cameron of Sierra Vista, AZ, passed away at 74 years of age on March 12, from complications due to lung cancer and pneumonia. Most recently, she had been staying with her sister, Erma, in Lake Havasu City, AZ to recuperate. She passed away peacefully at the Polidori House in Lake Havasu with her sister and her niece, Susan, by her side. Norma was born to Victor and Grace (Elfman) Cameron in Webster, ND on March 13, 1940. She was the youngest of four siblings—Eileen, Burnell, and Erma. While in high school, she was always active and played on the girl's basketball team. She graduated from high school in 1958 in Starkweather, ND and continued on to study business at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, ND. Norma worked for a short period of time in North Dakota before heading west to Portland, where she worked as a bookkeeper for several years. In 1974, she decided to follow her dream of joining the U.S. Army. The military was not simply her career; to her, they were an extended family. During her time in the military, she had tours in Korea and Okinawa; she also had the opportunity to visit Germany. After coming back to the U.S., she settled in Sierra Vista, AZ. She retired after 20 years and following this, generously gave eight years working for the Civil Service. After retirement, Norma continued her time with the military, working as a chaplain for the Sierra Vista American Legion. Although Norma never had children of her own, she was always a caretaker. She was much more than just a godmother to Corina Dasinger, her godchild, and was instrumental in the lives of Lisa Townsend and Angie Smith. Norma liked to stay active, and one of her favorite activities that kept her mind sharp was her daily crossword puzzles. There was very rarely an empty box when she was done. She also enjoyed golfing, fishing, and playing shuffleboard. Her favorite football team was the San Francisco 49ers, and she was an avid collector of anything that pertained to her team. Norma is survived by her sister, Erma (Jerry) Hesse of Lake Havasu City, AZ; nieces, Carol Hesse and Susan Weber of Lake Havasu City, AZ; nephews, Roger and Harold Heit of ND; Kenny Heit of IN; Les Cameron of OK; and Michael Hesse of Mesa, AZ. She is also survived by her close friends, Lolly Craig, the family of Mike (Tommy) and Rosa Dasinger, and Betty Kowalezyh of Sierra Vista, AZ, Lisa Towsend of Bullhead City, AZ; and Lisa's sister, Angie Smith, of Phoenix, AZ. She was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Grace Cameron; sister, Eileen Heit; and brother, Burnell Cameron. Services will be held on March 25, 2015 at the Fort Huachuca Chapel, Bldg 52060, Healy Ave., Fort Huachuca, AZ at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista, AZ. Local arrangements are being taken care of by Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Condolences and memories can be shared online at lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Donations can be made in Norma's name to the American Legion of Sierra Vista, 12 E Theater Dr., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. "Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives." - John Adams