Norma L. Rains

Norma L. Rains April 6, 1942 ~ May 19, 2012 Norman and Edna Lybbert became the proud parents of a baby girl, whom they named Norma LaRee, on April 6, 1942, in Ellensburg, WA. Norma called Moses Lake her home, growing up surrounded by a large extended family. She graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1960. After graduation, she moved to Ephrata with her cousin, BJ, and worked for the telephone company. There, she met and then married John Monroe on September 8, 1961. From that marriage, she gave birth to two children, Nicole LaVaugn and John Eric Monroe. Early in their marriage, Norma worked for Iris Rose Fashion in East Wenatchee. Then after moving back to Ephrata, Norma worked as the Special Education secretary at Columbia Ridge Elementary. Her love of art turned into a business when Norma and her longtime friend, Ruth Anne, became art dealers and opened the Homesteader art gallery. After her divorce and moving to Wenatchee in 1976, she became the Director of Loudon-Berg Art Gallery. It was then that she was introduced to Frank Rains by Bob and Noreen Dyer. Bob and Frank had been friends since grade school and Noreen was Norma's sister-in-law. On October 8, 1977, they began the magical journey that was their marriage when she became his "Bride." On this date, the family more than doubled with the addition of three more children, Paul, Julie and Jill Rains. One of the joys of her life was the successful blending of these two families into the vibrant, laughing, ever-broadening group we are today. In December 1990, Norma became affectionately known as "Grams" with the birth of her first grandchild. This name was her choice, something special and different that reflected who she was as a grandmother. In the ensuing years, seven more grandchildren joined the flock, and yet she was "Grams" to many others. Throughout their marriage, Norma and Frank were partners in every adventure, from the fruit industry to the slash-busting business, traveling to various parts of the world or finding the latest antique treasure. The first family home was The Rains Cashmere Orchards and packing warehouse on Highway 2 in Cashmere. Norma's strong sense of tradition and family was evident in everything she did, beginning with making this ramshackle 1904 farmhouse into a home for holiday cookie baking days, for special birthday celebrations, for pool parties, and snow angels after the hot tub. Her love of antiques, artwork, traveling, cooking came together in our family homes, always open and welcoming to any and all who visited, filled with her special touches. One of these passions turned into a successful business. She was the owner/operator of Collector's Gallery Antiques and Artwork on the Wenatchee Avenue for over ten years. Many customers and dealers became wonderful friends to Norma and she always enjoyed the "finds" that they would come in to show her. Her eye for quality art and antiques shows in their beautifully adorned home and echoes in the homes of all her children. Norma was a strong, caring, elegant woman who loved life and lived it to the fullest. Her open and accepting nature made all who met her feel special. She saved a special place in her heart for her friend, lover, soulmate and husband, Frank. Their relationship has been described as "regal", as they held each other with respect and marveled in their good fortune of finding one another to the very end. Norma and Frank endured a great deal during her final four years of life. She was continually beating the odds and went into each medical procedure with strength and conviction of success. Norma is survived by her husband, Frank Rains; her children, Paul (and Beverly) Rains, Nicole Monroe, Julie (and David) Kangas, Jill Rains and Eric Monroe; and her grandchildren, Cody Brunner, Shana Bye, Jake Monroe, Loni Rains, Brianna Kangas, Nia Peasley, Dani Monroe and Ella Kangas. She has one sister, Pearl McCaskill; and one brother, Charles Lybbert. She was met in Heaven by her parents, Norman and Edna Lybbert; and one brother, Keith Lybbert; (and a couple of "Buffy's"). Norma's family would like to thank Dr. Julie Smith and her assistant Kathy, the staff of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, Central Washington Hospital, the University of Washington Medical Center, Swedish Hospital, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and a special thank you to her European Stem Cell Donor, who gave us two more years with her. Donations, in memory of Norma, may be made to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at 825 Eastlake Avenue E., P.O. Box 19023, Seattle, WA 98109-1023. A Memorial gathering for all of her friends and family will be held at Frank and Norma's home, located at 7405 Hwy. 97A, Wenatchee, WA on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. Please share your thoughts, memories and pictures of Norma by emailing normarains2012@hotmail.com.