Obituary of Gay Maria Norgren

Gay Maria Norgren, 77, of Ashville, NY, passed away on Friday, July 17, 2020, in the Millard Fillmore Hospital, Buffalo, NY. A lifelong area resident, she was born March 15, 1943 in Jamestown, NY, a daughter of the late E. Robert and Charlette Jaderstrom Johnson. Gay was a 1961 graduate of Southwestern Central School and earned her associates degree from Jamestown Community College. She earned her bachelor's degree in education in 1969 and her first master's degree in Science Curriculum Education in 1970 and her second master's degree in C.A.S. in 1991, from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Before her retirement in 2001, she was an elementary school teacher for the Jamestown Public School System for 32 years. She began her career teaching at Fletcher Elementary School and taught most of her years at Rogers Elementary School. Following her retirement she was a teacher mentor at Fredonia State for 12 years. She and her late husband, Ron owned the Carriage House Antiques Store for many years. She was a member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Lakewood, NY and in earlier year was a member of the Lakewood united Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher. Gay was a very active and engaged person in her community as a member of many organizations including, the Fenton History Center, Lakewood Book Club, The Fortnightly Club, the Jamestown and Lakewood Women's Club, the CLCS Book Club Alumni at Chautauqua, the AAUW where she was active in the What's New Fair for many years. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, where she held several leadership positions, the Jamestown Teacher's Association and the New York State Teacher Association and served as a docent for the house tours at Chautauqua Institution. She will be remembered as a loving and caring mother, grandmother and sister who was an avid reader and a very multi talented and intelligent person. She loved history , especially Egyptian History, was an accomplished seamstress making many dresses for family members including making her daughter Michelle's wedding dress. She loved knitting and tending to her rose garden. Most of all she enjoyed being a Mom and Aunt to her family. Surviving are her children; Michelle L. (Timothy) Wissert of Elgin, IL, Andrew T. Norgren of Buffalo, NY, a granddaughter; Jordyn N. Wissert of Elgin, IL, four brothers; Lee R. (Pat) Johnson of Jamestown, Richard E. Johnson of Busti, Ronald M. (Linda) Johnson of Troy, OH, William C. (Cindy) Johnson of Diamond Point, NY, a sister; Dawn C. (Bill) Sherer of Boulder Junction, WI, a sister-in-law; Beth and Kent Black and family, as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald G. Norgren, whom she married August 13, 1966 and who died December 28, 2009, her fiancé, Robert "Bob" Ruhlman, from Alden, NY, who died in July 6, 2019 and her brother-in-law Kent Black. Due to restrictions on public gatherings and travel restrictions caused by the COVID19 epidemic, a memorial service to celebrate Gay's life will be held at a later date when family and friends can gather together. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, The Fenton History Center, the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or donate a book to your favorite library.