Norma Lee Spinney, a resident of Georgetown Island since 1975, passed away July 14 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough of bone cancer.
On Dec. 11, 1940, Norma was born to Pearl and Hedley B. Johnson in Nottaway County, Va. The family moved to Kodiak Island, Alaska, when she was preschool age, and she spent most of her childhood there, before returning to Hampton, Va. as a teen. She married young and moved to Schenectady, N.Y. after her husband graduated from William & Mary College and lived there for twelve years. Eventually, she married David A. Spinney, and the family moved to Georgetown Island on property that had been in the Spinney family for many years.
Norma was one of the first female draughtsmen at General Electric Co. in Schenectady, N.Y., and for several years, in Bath, was a customer service manager for the catalog/retail business Tell Tales. She was employed by the contractor Lockheed Martin on the Aegis Test Team (ATT) for the Navy at SupShip in Bath as a technical librarian for many years. While on ATT, she wrote an exercise column for the Lockheed Martin newsletter. She enjoyed teaching aerobic exercise classes at the Bath YMCA for seven years.
From a young age, she was an avid motorcyclist and a member of Chapter C Honda Goldwing Club and the United Bikers of Maine, driving an 1800 cc red Trike in her later years. She also enjoyed several Austin Healey roadsters and her last bright yellow Miata roadster. She loved gardening, and her yard was on the Garden Tour in Georgetown one summer, featuring art installations made from reclaimed metal from the recycle center in Georgetown. Most of her life, she was an artist working in watercolor, oils, pen & inks, collage, silversmithing, and stain glass work, displaying and selling her artwork in many states. The last few years, her artistic note cards have been at the Summer Galley in Brunswick. She enjoyed macro photography and developing black and white film in her studio. Reading and learning were a great part of her life, as well as kayaking, power boats, and camping with her VW Eurovan to many blues festivals and fairs around New England every summer and fall.
Norma had memberships in many organizations such as the Georgetown Historical Society, Working League, Book Club, Kennebec Art Club, First Light Camera Club, Society of Maine Craftsman, Chocolate Church Performing Arts, and Women on Wheels. She was a longtime member of Maine Blues Society, serving as secretary and board member, and was also a volunteer for Friends of Midcoast Maine Symphony. She was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church in Bath her entire life in Maine.
After her husband died in 2002, she started taking private classes with two different music teachers and learned to play percussion and a drum kit. Three years later, she joined the Bath Municipal Concert Band and the Hallowell Concert Band, playing percussion. She also became a member of the 50/50 Blues Band, playing a drum kit/vocals, and later a four piece all gal band, Lavender Blue, playing a drum kit/vocals until her death. Lavender Blue produced a music CD in 2013 and also produced one in 2015, soon to be released.
Norma had a zest for all life had to offer and lived as fully as she could all her days. She enjoyed and loved her family and friends and was always open to new challenges that life brought her way.
Norma is survived by son, David Spinney and wife Dana; grandchildren, Alexandra, Maddie, and Pearl; great-grandchild, Adelyn Gage, all of Georgetown, previously of Wiscasset; daughter, Sharon Hardy and husband Michael of New Jersey; sister, Donna Jones; nieces, Lori King and Brenda Cramer and their families in the Midwest; stepmom, Rachel Johnson; stepsister, Margo Chaffin and husband Glenn of Virginia; stepbrother, Lyn Gregory and wife Becky of Florida; aunts, uncles, and many cousins all over the U.S.; beloved Siamese cats, Meeko and Tsun; and many good friends from around the U.S. and from her art, motorcycle and music world.
Visiting hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Fri., July 24 at Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High St., Bath. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., July 25 at Grace Episcopal Church, 1100 Washington St., Bath. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the Church Fellowship Hall. Burial will be at Mountainside Cemetery in Georgetown.
Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.
