Norma Jean Woodard, 88, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 1st, 2015 in Santa Barbara, CA at Villa Alamar Senior Care Center.

Friends and family are warmly invited to come together to celebrate her life on Saturday, February 7 at 10:00 AM, at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, 123 North A Street, Lompoc, CA 93436. Reception immediately following at mortuary.

Norma Jean was born in Lompoc to Donalda and Ernest Moore on September 17, 1926. She graduated from Lompoc High School in 1944. She was a fourth generation member of two of Lompoc's original pioneer families, the Huycks and the Moores. Her family owned and operated Moore's Department Store in Lompoc before it's closing in 1990 after 111 years of business. Norma Jean was a consummate business woman, having started work in the family store at 12 years of age as a gift wrapper and eventually managing it singlehandedly after the retirement of her sister and business partner, Lothelle Grossini. She was a dedicated civic leader in the community and worked tirelessly to improve the downtown.

Family and friends were always first in her generous heart. Norma Jean was invariably kind, fiercely honest and just, unflinchingly forthright and entirely loyal, accepting and forgiving of others. She was warm, kind and fun. For those that knew her well, she might play her rendition of "Tuxedo Junction" on the piano! She delighted in hosting holiday dinners in the family home, and always welcomed special guests, including son Gary's close friend Alamar Fernandez for nearly 20 years.

Norma Jean is preceded in death by her parents, a brother Donald (Norma) Moore; a sister Lothelle (Joe) Grossini; husband Glenn James; and husband Carl Woodard.

Norma Jean is survived by daughter, Jennifer James (Patricia) of Grand Junction, CO; son Gary James (David) of Santa Barbara, CA; daughter Sharon (Herschel) Jones of Bentonville, AR; daughter Shirley (Mickey) Cook of Rock Hill, SC; four grandchildren Aaron (Korrina) Cook, Kevin Cook, Carabeth (Michael) Upton and Madison James; great-granddaughters Harley Cook and Amelia Upton; beloved niece Lyla (Larry) Mendez and family of Lompoc; favorite nephews Tom (Cindy) Grossini of Lompoc and Frank (Linda) Moore and family of Solvang, CA.. In addition she is survived by cousin Mary (née Moore) Smith and family, and the family of cousin James Moore.

The family would also like to honor her lifelong friend Violet McNett. And her pals, the ladies of 'Sewing Club'. In addition we honor her cousin and dedicated family historian Myra Huyck Manfrina.

We pay tribute to the many caregivers throughout her final years, especially her very own angel and driver, Anne Shaw.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Norma Jean's name to The Lompoc Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 88 Lompoc, CA 93438-0088, the Lompoc Theatre Project, www.lompoctheatre.org, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 1528 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 or the charity of your choice.