July 9, 1933 – July 16, 2024
Norma Janiece Hobson, 91, passed away at her home in Sheridan, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday evening, July 16, 2024. Born July 9, 1933, in Kempton, Ind., she was the daughter of the late Ola Ernest and Theresa Elizabeth (Moore) Baird.
She was a 1951 graduate of Sheridan High School, and a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary for the K.V. Elliott American Legion Post #67 of Sheridan. Norma faithfully attended the Baker’s Corner Wesleyan Church. After the closure of the Baker’s Corner church, she began attending Six Points Church in Sheridan.
Norma entered the job market at a young age. Her first job was at the Franklin Ice Cream Store in Sheridan. Although it was just a job like any other, it ended up being the most important and life altering career choice she ever made, because it was where she met a young man named Harold. She later hired on with Commercial Filters in Lebanon for a couple years before going to work at the Ben Franklin store in Carmel. Norma eventually went to work for Aero Drapery where she worked in the credit department; she retired as a supervisor after 20 years of dedicated service.
She enjoyed the beauty that flowers brought into the world, and never tired of watching the birds that would come by to visit. As she got older, her years in management (and as a mother) came in handy. Everybody knew that if the bird feeders weren’t kept full, they were going to hear about it. She also enjoyed doing crafts.
Family was always the most important thing in her life. The gentleman, Harold, that she met while working at the ice cream store eventually became one of the main characters of a love story that she (along with the other three) would tell for the rest of their lives. Depending on who was telling the story, the events may be a little different, and who’s idea it was may change from time to time; however, the plot always remained the same. Two brothers (Harold and Harley Hobson) eloped with two sisters (Norma and Martha Baird) to Arkansas, where they got hitched on October 9, 1950, and started the first chapter of a lifelong story that none of them ever tired of sharing.
Norma loved to travel, and luckily for her, the rest of the foursome was always ready to come along for the ride. There were always plenty of stories that came from their trips (some tales were taller than others), and nobody in the group would ever fess up to exactly how much truth there was in them, but either way, they made for good conversation. Nothing goes better with good conversation than good company, and Norma loved to sit and visit. If you had the time, so did she.
Norma loved her family and made sure that her home was always filled with love. Not only was she mom to her own children, but she was also the neighborhood mom. There was always a full cookie jar waiting for whoever walked through the door. As the years passed, and her family started having families of their own, Norma realized her true calling: being a grandmother.
Norma is survived by two sons, Stephen Allen Hobson (Joyce) of Noblesville and Gerald Wayne Hobson (Anita) of Arcadia; seven grandchildren, Mark Hobson (Joy), Eric Hobson (Theresa), Susan Steward (David), Vanessa Moistner (Donovan), Robert Hobson (Tiffany), Melissa Hobson, and Charles Hobson, Jr. (Cindy); 17 great-grandchildren, Lora Hobson, Abbie Hobson, Koia Campbell, Brentton Campbell, Melissa Teague, Makayla Teague, Kyra Steward, Ethan Moistner, Abby Moistner, Zeke Hobson, Everly Hobson, Matthew Bowman, Brianna Basler, Austin Basler, Hailey Hobson, Reed Hobson, and Alex Hobson; two great-great-grandchildren, Brantley Bowman and Charles DesNoyers, with one great-great-granddaughter on the way; two brothers, Floyd “Don” Baird of Hawkinsville, Ga., and Ralph “Jack” Baird of Sheridan; and brother-in-law, Bill Moore of Mooresville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ola Ernest and Theresa Elizabeth (Moore) Baird; son, Charles David “Chuck” Hobson; daughter, Peggy Darlene Hobson; four sisters, Doris Stultz, Georgia Moore, Betty Baker, and Martha Hobson (and her husband, Harley Hobson); and by her loving husband, Harold Hobson on April 24, 2019.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning, July 23, 2024, at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th St., Sheridan. Burial will follow at Spencer Cemetery in Sheridan. Pastor Scott McDermid will be officiating. Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Kercheval Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be presented to the American Cancer Society, in honor of Peggy.
Please click this link to view the live stream of Norma’s funeral: facebook.com/events/s/norma-hobson-funeral/1165301448036510.
Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com