Norma Jean Duane

Norma Jean Duane, a loving wife, mother, sister and friend peacefully passed away on September 23rd. After several days, surrounded by her family and a constant flow of others coming to pray, share scripture and sing, she took her last breath, claiming the heavenly reward she believed in. With a marriage that spanned seventy-one years, she is now reunited with the love of her life – most likely dancing.

She was an amazing mother to her three daughters Brenda Barger, Dorene Glynn and Penny Maxson, and mother-in-law to three sons-in-law Brett, Stephen and Brent – whom she referred to as her “sons-in-love”. She was the proud Gigi to Brett Colley, Travis Colley, Tyler Maxson, Lindsey Lazowick, Cody Barger, Shea Barger and twelve great-grandchildren.

When reflecting on her life several years ago, she said, “I consider my most important accomplishments in life to be being a good mother to my daughters loaned to me by God, being a good wife to my husband, and serving my God. With the time left in this life I want to follow God wherever he leads me.”

She was a woman of great faith serving her God, her church, and community. She enjoyed friendships that lasted throughout her life. She was also a woman of many talents. An amazing seamstress and award-winning quilter, her handiwork has graced the sanctuaries of many churches, and her quilts have wrapped her family and friends with an abundance of love. She was a great cook – renowned for her Thanksgiving dressing - and extended that talent to creating a catering service to support the Women’s Club during her tenure as President. She was truly gifted with numbers and worked as a bookkeeper in the public school system for many years and eventually for a hospice organization. She was extremely proud of her Master Gardener Certificate she received from the University of Florida and enjoyed gardening throughout her life. After leaving her home and garden of many years in Florida and moving into an assisted living facility in Georgia, she quickly volunteered to work with residents in the memory care unit to plant flowers in raised beds.

She will certainly be remembered for her competitive spirit that served her well in her journey throughout life. A spirit that leaves us with many stories to share that fill us with love and laughter. She loved to win, and she most often did whether she was playing badminton in the yard at the lake or a game of Skip-Bo with a grandchild. This spirit remained to recent years playing Corn Hole at her 90th birthday party daring anyone to beat her.

She will certainly be remembered for the grace with which she entered the final stage of her life as she faced her diagnosis of vascular dementia and the journey that would be. With her passing she is whole once again.

A Celebration of the Life of Norma Jean Duane will be held at Gainesville First United Methodist Church

Saturday, November 8, 2025 11am

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Memorial Fund of Gainesville First United Methodist Church 2780 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.

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