Norma E. Colyer, 83, Altoona, died Tuesday at Altoona Regional after a short illness.
She was born in Petersburg, daughter of Joseph S. and Grace A. (Park) McGinnis. She married Clae C. "Cork" Colyer on Aug. 20, 1948, and he preceded her in death April 26, 2000.
Surviving are two sons: Steven L. Colyer and wife, Susan M., and Randall L. Colyer and wife, Sylvia L.
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Steven and Susan live in Oak Hill, Va., and have three children: Jennifer, Matthew and Sean. Jennifer married John Sigmon, and they have two children: Eliana and Benjamin. Matthew Colyer married Polina Segalova in the last year.
Randy and Sylvia live in Altoona and have two children: Ryan and Zachary.
Norma was the second child of seven in the McGinnis family. Her brothers and their wives were Raynor and Pat, Donald and Sara, Allen and Thelma, Edwin and Dixie, Howard, and Thomas and Peggy.
Norma was a graduate of Hollidaysburg High School. Work, family, antiques, church and travel were important to her. She was an institution at the Greenwood Swimpool Co. for 52 years, first working closely with her husband, Clae, to create the business in 1960 and going on to work with her younger son, Randy and his wife, Sylvia.
She had a somewhat novel approach to antiques. She focused primarily on items that had special meaning to families she knew and histories that she remembered. She also enjoyed travel, including a trip to Houston by car many years ago, a number of visits to Florida and to many parts of the Caribbean, a whirlwind tour of Germany and a cruise to Alaska. She was a member of the Lakemont United Methodist Church, where she found peace in a welcoming congregation.
Norma always had an exceedingly optimistic view of the abilities of her family and always insisted that they could do no wrong.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today and 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home Inc., Juniata.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in memory of Norma to the American Cancer Society or Shriners Hospitals for Children.
