Norma Elaine Heffington

Normie Elaine (Darrow) Heffington passed away, peacefully at her home, on Sunday, October 19, 2025.  Normie was born in Jackson, California, on April 1, 1933 to George Darrow and Clara Darrow (Williams).  She attended Jackson High School.  Prior to turning 18, she married Lester W. Heffington.  They went on to have four sons; Lester Jr., Dennis, Dana, and David and four daughters; Joy, Sandi, Cindi, and Kay.  As a youth Normie would spend the summer months in Wilton with her grandma, Ella Tayor, a matriarch and original member of the Wilton Miwok Rancheria.  Normie would work in the hops of Sloughhouse, Ca.  Normie was probably one of the hardest working people you could know.  She worked tirelessly to provide for her family in the most challenging of times.  She and her children would work long and hard hours gathering leaf mold to sell to a local nursery.  She went on to work a variety of jobs, such as, housekeeper at the Jackson Convalescent hospital, delivering newspapers for the Amador Ledger, and finally at the lumber mill in Martell.  She worked at the mill for 26 years before retiring.  She worked as hard as anyone at the mill.  She loved cooking for her family, her friends, and anyone that needed to be fed.  Normie was known for her fried chicken and especially her blackberry cobbler from fresh berries picked along the Mokelumne River.  She was still cooking for family and friends into her 90’s.  Normie thoroughly enjoyed going to the Wilton Rancheria’s Sky River Casino and the Jackson Rancheria Casino.  She enjoyed her time there winning or not.  Normie took great pride in the flowers and bushes in her yard.  Her son David was instrumental in establishing a garden-like environment for his mom.  Lester Jr. developed a watering system for Normie’s plants to ensure everything was properly watered.  Lester was always puttering around the house taking care of all the little tasks Normie needed done.  Dana was attentive to ensure Normie’s needs were met, such as taking her to doctor’s appointments.  Kay could always be depended upon to ensure Normie had good meals and especially her favorite minestrone soup.  Normie’s warm smile and quiet strength will be deeply missed by all who knew her.  Normie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers; Tony, Bill, and Raymond, sister; Betty, daughter; Joy Lynn, and sons Dennis and David.

She is survived by her five children, Lester Heffington (wife Susan) of Rancho Murieta, California, Sandi Willey (husband David) of Lewiston, Idaho, Cindi Rhoades of Jackson, Dana Heffington (wife Teresa) of Jackson, and Kay Heffington of Jackson; a sister, Gertrude Custino, of Ione, California, a brother Ralph Darrow (wife Nanci) of Jackson.  She is also survived by six grandchildren; Jennifer, Eric, Sarah, Dovie, Garrett (wife Monica), and Robert (wife Elizabeth), one great grandchild, April, and many nephews, nieces, and close friends.

The family sincerely appreciates the care given to Normie by Robert (Bob) and Maggie during her final days. The family wants to acknowledge the love and care Bea Wilson gave our mother during her final minutes of life. It was a comfort to the family to have Bea with mom.

Normie’s funeral service will be held at the Daneri Mortuary, 415 Broadway, Jackson, CA, on November 4, 2025, at 11am.