Peacefully, at Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, on Monday, December 22, 2025, Norma Jean Boose, at the age of 67 years, beloved wife and best friend of Gary for over 42 years. Loving daughter of the late Thelma (nee McCutcheon) and Ross Taylor. Norma has been a lifetime resident of King Township.
Honouring Norma’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will not be a funeral service. A private family celebration of Norma’s life will happen at a later date.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake Health (www.southlake.ca) or a charity of your choice.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Lynn Schneider and Jim Schneider
My condolences to the family sorry for your loss. Norma Jean a wonderful person and will be missed.
Terri Lacombe (Manderson)
Gary,
I am so sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest condolences.
I have so many fond memories of Norma, especially at our family gatherings where she was always smiling and making us laugh.
Some of my most cherished memories, however, are from working with her during the summers at CDECB. She was incredibly funny, kind, patient, and generous.
She will be deeply and sorely missed.
Martha
My sincerest condolences to Gary and family. Norma Jean was a lovely lady. I am so glad to have met her and Gary through my late husband, Edward Gardhouse.
Remembering all the happy memories with Norma Jean will help with the grief, I’ve found. R.I.P. Norma Jean.
Judy Lipsett
Gary we are very sorry to hear of Norma’s passing , our condolences, cherish all your wonderful memories made in those 42 years of togetherness.Cal and Judy Lipsett and Family
Bonnie O'Hara
So sorry to hear of Norma Jean’s passing. We were in the same grade in high school. Is harder it seems when it’s around Christmas time. My thoughts & prayers are with you.
Jim and Heidi Sant
Our deepest condolences Gary may Norma Jean RIP god bless ur in our thoughts and prayers her sense of humour and kindness will deeply be missed she was a amazing person always enjoyed her visits
Bryon and Cathy Wilson
Our Deepest condolences to you Gary. Norma was a wonderful person with a great sense of humour. She will be sorely missed.
John, Helen, Teresa Sheardown
Our condolences Gary. May you always cherish the memories of Norma -Jean. Wishing you peace at this time.
Pat Kolb
Dear Gary
I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of Norma Jean. As mentioned before, her humour will be missed by all. I personally will miss her email on May 1 which she remembered every year.
Your memories of her will now become your treasure.
May she rest in peace.
Linda Olsen
Dear Gary
I was so sorry to hear about Norma Jean’s passing. Always enjoyed our catch-up phone calls. May your memories sustain you through this difficult time. She will be sadly missed
Larry Sheardown
Dear Gary, sending hugs from Larry and Sue Sheardown
Lots of great memories
Edna Wright
Sending my Condolances to Gary ,
on Norma Jean’s passing
Roy Wright
Fiore
I’m very sorry to her the loss of Norma Jean
My condolences to the families
Our prayers are with you
Sue & Gino DiFebo
Gary, our sincere condolences on the loss of your Norma Jean. Since our childhoods, Norma Jean had always remained a kind and thoughtful person. She will be fondly remembered.
Sue & Gino
Nancy & Craig Honey
Hi Gary,
Nancy and I extend our sincere condolences on your loss of your life partner. Although we didn’t know Norma Jean, we believe she must have been a wonderful person and know that you miss her terribly. As time passes, we hope that you will be able to enjoy the memories of the good times you shared.
Nancy & Craig
Matthew and Christina Aitchison
Sending our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Gary and Jasmine.
Norma will be so incredibly missed. We have tended to the Boose property for over a decade now and she became such a treasured friend to us. Please reach out to either one of us if you need anything, at any time. Our hearts are with you.
Norma Jean Stephenson Frans
Gary, condolences to you and your family, thinking of you all and Norma Jean.
John and Norma Jean Frans
Barbara P Downey
Dear Gary
So sorry to hear the news about Norma Jean. Treasure your memories of friends far and wide
.May she rest in peace.
Glen Broad
Gary, so sorry to hear of Norma Jean’s passing. We often met Norma Jean at the plaza in Nobleton. She was always first to speak, and always left us laughing. Cherish the good times and the happy memories you had together.
Glen and Nancy Broad
Douglas Sutherland
Gary,
Sincere condolences to you on Norma Jeans’ passing.
Doug, Colleen, Heather and Hilary
Ontario Hereford Association
I’m very sorry to her the loss of Norma Jean. My condolences
Martha Henshaw
Dear Gary, I was very sorry to learn of Norma Jean’s passing. We (my brother Tim and I)were if 4-H dairy club together. May the memories comgort you in the coming days, weeks and months.
Sincerely, Martha Henshaw
Dianne LeBlanc
So sorry to hear about Norma Jean. I enjoyed getting to know her while we served together on the Ontario West Hereford Zone. Was always nice to run into her at the Medonte Sales and catch up. Thinking of you Gary.
Billy and Juanita
So very sorry to hear this Gary. She was always so friendly and positive to be around. A real gem. She will be missed.
Andree McNeely
Dear Gary and family .We were shocked to read that Norma Jean passed away !
Always enjoyed her passion for Herefords and friendship.
Frank & Andree McNeely OVHF
Olds Alberta
Jillaine Corp
Gary, we were shocked and saddened to learn of Norma Jean’s passing. We always enjoyed our time together at Hereford events. Our thoughts and prayers are with you
Peter Kirby
Gary, so sorry to hear this very sad news. We always enjoyed our visits with both of you and working with Norma Jean on the Ontario West Hereford Zone activities.
Cherish all of the wonderful memories.
Carol & Peter Kirby
Liz, Harald and Martina Sagermann
Dear Gary,
As neighbours of the Taylor family, Norma Jean was originally a childhood friend of my younger sister, which meant there were lots of times spent together as kids when she was at our house for play dates. Living on the 10th also meant hours together on school buses through public school and then high school, taking part in 4H club meetings and the subsequent projects, the shared love of animals- cats, dogs, ponies, cows, and of course being acquainted with the workings of farm equipment to help our dads with day to day chores, and of course the harvest! We also shared the draw to being outside on the farm versus in the house, much to the chagrin of our poor mothers! I can still hear Thelma’s (Norma’s mom) exclamation, ‘Oh Norma’!
All that to say we had such a common bond. When Harald and I built our own home, and started our family, we had the good fortune to grow closer to you 2, who became more than neighbours! We shared the sadness of the passing of our parents, but still enjoyed remembering stories from our childhood, involving life on the 10th. Over the past decade our times together at Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving were always fun occasions- family- is how we and our kids saw it.
When our Christian suddenly passed, Norma Jean and you were immediately there with and for us. We will never forget how Norma Jean took over in our house, managing dinner for us and many visitors before and after the funeral. Afterwards, in those dark days that followed, she checked in with us daily, with a text every morning, and phone calls, so in tune with how we all (me, Harald, Martina) needed support.
Norma Jean was a wonderful woman and dear friend; practical, straight speaking, and yes- opinionated! If she had a thought about something, we’d all know it- example Shania Twain….not a fan! She prided herself on being a country girl, a farmer, a farmer/vet’s wife. She loved the years that involved showing your beautiful Herefords, and with it, the Hereford community. She was kind, considerate, and loyal, and if she had an idea that was important, she was persistent! Her dry sense of humour was so like her dad’s- quiet one liners with no expression, then a laugh. She was a great listener, and offered valuable insights and perspectives, even sometimes after a conversation when she had had time to reflect.
Throughout her illness, she was positive until the last weeks, when her health started to decline, at which point the practical Norma kicked in.
Selfishly, we miss her terribly, and can only imagine how you, Gary, must feel at losing your life partner. We loved her, will cherish our memories of her and are sustained by the thought that she is in a better place.
With our deepest condolences,
Liz, Harald and Martina Sagermann
Diane Peldszus
Dear Gary,
Our hearts are so heavy with the news of Norma’s passing. What a wonderful friend and neighbour to us girls growing up as kids…we shared lots of laughs over farming antics and Halloween stints (where the Taylor dairy cow tails were spray painted orange with the aid of some crazy neighbours one Halloween!).
Over the last many years we spent family gatherings together where no subject was off the table over wonderful meals. Norma was always up to date on all current events and made conversations funny, opinionated and interesting. Her laughter always made me think of her sweet parents who always enjoyed a good chuckle.
May she rest in peace. Gary, we send love, hugs and our sincere condolences to you and Jasmine.
Diane, George, Olivia and George Jr.
Deborah Peldszus
Dear Gary,
I was so sad to hear of Norma Jean’s passing. We shared so many wonderful childhood memories growing up.
We bonded in Grade 4. She was kind & thoughtful as well as funny & she also loved animals… so we quickly became best friends spending most of our after school time together at each other’s family households. Some of my fondest memories included trips to the Royal Winter Fair, 4H meetings, working on creative school projects, dinners at the Taylor’s house enjoying her mom’s delicious apple pies, hours of tobogganing off the cliff, & the epic tomato battle in a neighbour’s field one night after a bumper crop harvest! We were also roommates for a while in Kitchener after high school.
Throughout the years, even though we lived a great distance apart we maintained our friendship, never forgetting our birthdays & staying connected. I stopped by to visit whenever I had the chance & it was always like no time had passed between us. A sign of a true friendship.
I will miss her dry sense of humour & sharp wit, her genuineness & kindness. Rest in Peace Norma Jean. I will always think of you when I hear “‘Twas the night before Christmas”.
My thoughts are with you Gary as I send you & Jasmine my deepest condolences.
Deb Peldszus
Hilary (Hilda) Sproule (nee Chamberlain)
Dear Gary,
I’m so very sorry. It’s hard to put into words how much Norma Jean meant to me. Our friendship began all those years ago when I babysat after her family moved to the farm next to ours, and from that time on, Norma, her mom and dad always felt like family to me.
New Year’s Eve this year brings memories of celebrating New Year’s Eve at your farm. During our dinner you received an urgent vet call from a local farmer, who needed help with calving. Many wives would have been upset to have dinner interrupted, but Norma saw an opportunity. She insisted that my husband, Bill, accompany you. Now Bill is a bonified city fella so not of any real help except perhaps, to hold your vet bag. Norma’s embraced being a vet’s wife and always saw the possibilities to make the most of a situation. For a fellow from the city this was a major event, and Bill brings up this memory frequently. It was one of my favorite New Year’s Eve celebrations. I marvel that when you both returned that we then stayed up to ring the New Year in.
I’ll always treasure the way Norma dove into genealogy and proudly announced that we were 6th cousins through the Taylor family. She loved researching her family tree and finding connections between families.
She was good connecting with people. Our boys still remember visiting your farm and Norma pulled out the Lincoln Logs. She was down on the floor encouraging them to build. She stayed in that role of cheerleader. She applauded their major events and sent the neatest gifts. They thought of her as an aunt.
Even after I moved far away, we never really felt apart. Our daily texts about the weather, happenings on the tenth line and the little ups and downs of life meant the world to me, and those long weekly FaceTime chats — an hour or two gone in a blink — were something I always looked forward to. I know it probably amazed you how much we could talk.
She was a dear, steady presence in my life, and I will miss her deeply. I am grateful to have had her and you in our life. Please know Bill, Davy, Jacyln, PJ and I are thinking of you during this difficult transition.
With love,
The Sproule Family
MurrayStewart
Dear Gary
So sorry to learn of Norma Jean’s passing. I share warm condolences and trust she is now at peace and you are able to lean on your wonderful memories and experiences together. We were so blessed to have known Norma Jean and her parents through your neighbours, the Davises.
Murray
Bob and Peggy Belcher
Peggy and I offer sincere condolences to Gary and the whole family on the passing of Norma Jean.
Patti Agnew
I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Gary. I am very sorry to hear about Norma Jean’s passing.
I grew up near her McCutcheon cousins, and would chat with Norma Jean at some of the bonspiels. Norma Jean was always interested in how my Mom and I were doing ( particularly after Mom’s stroke.) She will be missed. Patti Agnew
Margaret Black
Norma was such a wonderful person. She will be so missed. I am so sad to hear of her passing. All the best to you Gary ❤️
Sue Leach and Dave Green
Norma Jean was a dear cousin and friend. She will be missed! I remember as children the fun we would have when our parents got together or at family reunions. Norma was a farm girl like so many of her cousins. We all shared a common interest in 4-H and love of animals and the outdoors.
Norma and Gary made us most welcome when we moved to the Nobleton area just after we married. She was thoughtful and kind to invite me to join her Ladies Golfing League as well as her Curling group where I met some wonderful folks. Norma was always ready to lend a hand to anyone of her friends and neighbours who needed it.
Our sincere condolences to Gary.
Wendy-Sue
Gary, I was so sad to hear of the passing of Norma Jean. I did not even realize she was ill.
Norma Jean was quiet, humble and understated – yet you always knew her opinion.
Norma Jean was steady,serious and often solemn – yet she had an amazing sense of humour -so many droll gems that you had to listen for and everyone appreciated!
I have always known Norma Jean-all her life as we were both ‘Nobleton’ girls but in later years I housesat for her.
One story always ruminates with me when I think of Norma Jean-You guys were in the middle of a renovation of the farmhouse. Suzy (her German Shepherd) and I were sitting on the couch watching television when out of one of the corners of the room, menacingly flew a BAT!!!!! There was a whole lot of yelling, screaming and barking that preceeded me grabbing a broom and swinging wildly at the bat, which then vanished! The next day, you and Norma Jean arrived home with me hyperventilating and wildly telling you the story of the bat. Norma Jean immediately shut me down and totally denied that there were any bats in the house and that was the end of that!
Six months later I get this phone call from Norma Jean -no Hello-just an “I’m sorry” followed with laughter-apparently you were finishing up the renovation and down in the basement you guys came across the missing and very dead bat.
That was Norma Jean-to the point and always with humour. Kind,humble,smart wrapped up with humour are all the traits that I admired in Norma Jean-she will be missed!
Velma Atkinson
Dear Gary,
Please accept our sincere condolences on the passing of lovely Norma Jean. Norma Jean spent many years with our family sharing laughter, teasing and good times. Her thoughtfulness and generosity after Glenn passed filled our home with beautiful memories.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
Velma Atkinson and Family
Karen
Gary,
I was so saddened to hear of Norma Jean’s passing.
We met the first year we started curling in Schomberg. She was a force to be reckoned with, on the curling rink and otherwise! Her wit and sarcasm – totally my language! – were what I really enjoyed about her, especially as my vice on the rink! I appreciated her honesty, smile, kindness and her upfront way of showing up and owning the world.
Her shining light will be sorely missed.
Thinking of you and your family at this very sad time.