Norma Rae Clair, 78, of Loraine, Illinois, passed away surrounded by her loved ones in her home on August 20, 2023. She was born on November 20, 1944, in Carlinville, Illinois, to the late Edgar Ray and Mina Mae (Fox) Sutton. She graduated from Girard High School in 1962. She worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation as a secretary until 1968.
In September 1967, at a Rural Youth Meeting, she met the love of her life, Dan. On June 23rd, 1968, she and Dan were married at the Girard Christian Church in Girard, IL., on what was supposedly the hottest day of the year!
Norma and Dan made their home in rural Loraine, where they began their farming career. She was the devoted housekeeper and life partner one could only dream about. Supporting Dan with the farming operation and raising her children was her ideal occupation. She loved so much being able to be involved with her children at school as a room mother multiple years. She cherished being able to be home when everyone got off the bus from school. One of her most blessed opportunities was moving Dan and the boys back and forth from field to field and to bring out a hot lunch or dinner to the tractor or combine. She never regretted being a farm wife. She loved.
Norma was active in the community in several ways. She cooked many a meal for the Lions Club and for the church. She was part of the North Adams Home Geronteers, and served as an assistant Chaplain Assistant for Blessing Hospital. Norma was a member of the Loraine Community Church, where she played an active role as a teacher, mentor, and friend to many. She and Dan were members of the Great River Walk to Emmaus, where they served as Lay Director on different weekends. She loved.
She always had a smile on her face. Everyone who saw her always saw that love she had for everyone. There wasn’t a stranger she couldn’t talk to. There wasn’t a friend that she didn’t have the time for. She could brew a pot of coffee in seconds and talk for hours with anyone. Many of those conversations were about her faith, which she held on to deeply during the last years of her life. She loved.
Surviving Norma is her loving husband of 55 years, Dan Clair of Loraine, Illinois; children: Scott (Christina) Clair of Iowa City, Iowa, Brad (Trina) Clair of New Berlin, Illinois, Erin (Adam) Adair of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, and Brent Clair of Loraine. grandchildren, Shelby, Katie, Cassie, Cody, and Carter Clair, and Emma Rae Adair, sisters-in-law, Florence Sutton, Rosemary (Gary) Brickman and Crystal Clair, brother-in-law, Ted (Sylvia) Clair, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Virginia Strong, brother, Donald Sutton, sister-in-law, Anita Clair, and brothers-in-law, Chester Strong and Randy Clair.
A Celebration of Life for Norma will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26. 2023, at the Loraine Community Church. Rev. Connie Jenkins to officiate. Interment in Curless Cemetery.
The visitation will be held on Friday evening from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Loraine Community Church in Loraine, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Great River Walk to Emmaus, or to the Loraine Community Church.
