Norma J. McFarland

Norma Jean Stark McFarland passed away peacefully at home on August 31, 2024 in Tooele, Utah of complications from breast cancer.

Norma was born in Paonia, Colorado on August 13, 1942, to Paul and Juanita Andrews Stark. Her early life was spent on a farm in Hotchkiss, Colorado and she often talked about spending time with her grandparents in Colorado as a child and life on the farm. The family moved to Ceresco, Nebraska when she was young to be near her cousins and extended family. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and graduated as a registered nurse.

Norma had many health challenges in life, she contracted polio when she was 10 years old which affected her ability to easily walk later in life, she had breast cancer twice, and in the end dementia. She met all health challenges with a positive attitude and a belief she would overcome them.

Norma met Ron while on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, they were married in 1973 and had two daughters, Erin and Amy. She worked at the Tooele Valley Hospital and the Tooele Valley Nursing Home, retiring in 2002. 

Norma was a member of the Tooele United Methodist Church.She had a big heart and would often go out of her way to help those less fortunate – both people and animals. She was instrumental in setting up the Wednesday Warm-ups at the Methodist church, where anyone could get a warm meal and good conversation. Her grandsons helped her every Wednesday after school, where she passed on lessons of helping others. Norma was active in the Girl Scouts when her daughters were young and helped with the annual summer day camp in Settlement Canyon. She loved good sweet corn (as a good Nebraska cornhusker should), watermelon, and anything chocolate, but she especially loved her grandchildren. Their favorite memories of grandma are riding with her when they were young on her mobility scooter around the neighborhoodwhere she would always sit patiently and watch hours of“diggers” and “dumps” at construction sites and always be ready to play a game of “kick the ball”. Her youngest grandson loved searching the neighborhood for Halloween decorations with grandma as soon as it felt like fall. She was always up for an adventure and anytime a grandson would say, “Grandma let’s go …” she would grab the car keys – they always returned with good stories.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Ron. She is survived by daughters Erin Lloyd (Mike) and Amy Teague (Will), both of Tooele; and three grandchildren, Lewis Lloyd, Jacob Lloyd, and Seth Teague. She also leaves a sister Jane McKlem (Lyle) of Nebraska and brother Virgil Stark (Carolyn) of Kansas, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at the Tooele City Cemetery Thursday, September 12 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute for their kind care over the years, especially the teams of Dr. Beck and Dr. Kimani. A special thanks to the CNAs and staff at Our House Assisted Living who provided gentle reminders of where she was and daily care for Norma over the last six months.