Norma (McPheron) Netherland, 83, TN, obituary
Norma McPheron Netherland, 83, of 182 Lone Oak Road,
Surgoinsville, TN, passed away Monday, October 1, 2007 at
Wellmont Holston Valley Hospital, Kingsport, Sullivan Co TN
after a sudden illness.
Norma was an extraordinary mother and friend, and a
tireless volunteer who served her community for more than
50 years to the very day preceding her untimely death. As
a mother of four children, she volunteered to work with
the schools and 4-H Clubs in Hawkins County. Her interest
in working with children led to a forty-year career as
substitute teacher in the school system, where she knew
and influenced thousands of children.
As a volunteer, she helped make Hawkins County 4-H Club
the largest and most honored club in the country, by
helping young people develop many achievements and honors.
Over her 30-year volunteer career, she received many
recognitions and awards including the Tennessee Friendship
Award for outstanding service and support to the District V
4-H program, Outstanding 4-H Leader in East Tennessee, and
the State 4-H Alumni Award for her leadership activities.
She was also an accomplished seamstress, cook and homemaker.
She made thousands of garments from band uniforms to
wedding dresses, and wore out many sewing machines over
the years. She taught many young people how to cook and
prepare meals, and many profess to have learned how to
make biscuits at her tableside. She tirelessly organized
and cooked many, many meals for church and lodge functions.
Many brides asked for her services in organizing weddings
and receptions. She was a member of the Family and
Community Education program of the Agricultural Extension
Service. In 1979 she was recognized as the Outstanding
Home Economics Leader in East Tennessee. In 1991 she
received the Tennessee Extension Homemaker Award for
international projects and the National Extension Homemakers
Council Award for outstanding volunteer service to the
community and nation.
She was a member of the Fairview Chapter No. 80, Order of
the Eastern Star serving as Worthy Matron and Grand
Representative to Manitoba, Canada. She also held many
other offices in the organization. As Mother Advisor from
1989 to 2002 to the Church Hill Assembly No. 105 Order of
the Rainbow for Girls, she mentored many young women. As a
result of her work, she was appointed the Tennessee State
Mother Advisor.
She was also a hospital volunteer at Hawkins County
Memorial Hospital for several years and served as president
of the organization.
Her community recognitions include an award as Citizen of
the Year by the Surgoinsville Ruritan Club in 2000. She
also received the Civic Responsibility and Outstanding
Character Award in 2003 from the 1st Tennessee Human
Resource Agency, one of few people to be so honored.
She was a long-time active member of First Baptist Church
of Surgoinsville.
Her greatest achievement remains the success of her family
and the many young people she taught, mentored and
influenced over the years. She will be greatly missed and
fondly remembered.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Netherland
and daughter Carolyn Wiggs. She is survived by two daughters
Patsy Norris and her husband Lynn, Janet Sandidge and
husband John; a son Bob Netherland and wife Mary Richards;
five grandchildren, Doug Sandidge and wife Gretchen, Sean
Wiggs and wife Julia, Jeremy Norris and wife Amanda, Jason
Norris and wife Rachel, and Jared Norris and wife Katie;
three great-grandchildren, Madison and Mason Sandidge and
Will Norris. She is also survived by sisters, Juree Bass
and husband Ralph, Margaret Allen and husband Jack, and a
brother Tolby McPheron and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from
4 to 7 p.m. at Carter-Trent Funeral Home of Church Hill or
friends may also call anytime at the residence of the
daughter, Patsy Norris, 156 Lone Oak Road. An Order of
Eastern Star service will be conducted by Fairview Chapter
# 80 O.E.S at 7 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with a
memorial service to follow with Rev. Brad Smith officiating.
A graveside service and burial will be held at 11 a.m. on
Thursday September 4, 2007 at the Liberty Hill Cemetery in
Mount Carmel, TN. Friends are asked to meet at the cemetery
by 10:50 a.m. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. You can
send an online condolence to the family of Norma Netherland
by visiting
http://www.cartertrent.com/http://www.cartertrent.com/
Carter-Trent Funeral Home of Church Hill is serving the
Netherland family.