Norma Jean Leichty

December 26, 1929 - October 27, 2022

Norma Jean Leichty passed away at her home on October 27, 2022. She was the middle child, born December 26, 1929, in West Liberty, Ohio, to O.B. and Clara Greider Warye. She told many interesting stories of growing up in the 1930s. Although her family was very poor, she was well loved and cared for and had a happy childhood.  She gave her heart to Jesus at a revival meeting when she was 11 and was a member of the Mennonite Church from that time on. Norma Jean's family moved to Virginia when she was a teenager and then to Hubbard, Oregon. Her dad had followed the crops when he was single and loved Oregon, so eventually her mother agreed to move. For Norma Jean moving was difficult. She had finished high school in Virginia and had a good job and lots of friends. Soon she made new friends in Oregon. When the young men from Fairview came to Zion on Sunday nights, she became acquainted with Jake Leichty, and they married in 1949. She was a farmer's wife and mother to four children, grandmother to 11, and great grandmother to 14. They have fond memories of her themed parties, especially the wolfie party. She loved to cook and entertain people. She was known for using the dribble glass as a prank at the table and also served oxtail soup, with the tail, to someone who teased her about pulling the tail off a baby pig that she was trying to rescue. Norma Jean was a natural teacher. She taught Sunday School, summer Bible school and women's Bible studies. When she was young, she thought she might become a missionary, and God used her to reach out to many people as well as support various missionaries and mission work. She kept a diary, wrote poems, and chose a word for the year, then searched for verses on that subject. Her theme for this year was hope, which she is now experiencing to the fullest degree. "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my HOPE is in Him."  Psalm 62:5. Over the years Norma Jean was called Norjie, NJ and Gongey by people who knew and loved her. She especially liked being called Gongey because her first grandchild called her that. That name has stuck with her for 45 years. Her parents, two brothers, and husband Jake went on before her. She is survived by Barbara Jo and Bob Kaufman, Calvin and Mary Leichty, Phil and Rosie Leichty, and Jan and Al Garcia, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, her brother-in-law Wilmer Leichty, and his wife Mary, along with many who consider her their grandma and friend.