Joanne (Jodi) Norris February 12, 1933 – June 8, 2023

On June 8, the cornerstone and matriarch of our family, Joanne (Jodi) Norris, passed away from complications of heart failure, at the age of 90 years, 3 months. She passed away in her sleep at 2:35 a.m. At the time of her death, she was a patient at Tehachapi Hospital where she received exceptional and compassionate care, for which we are so grateful!

Jodi was born in Los Angeles, California, on February 12th, 1933. As a young girl, she and her family moved to Ventucopa, California, in the Cuyama Valley. It was there she met her future husband, Ryan (Babe) Norris, they were married in 1950. Jodi and Babe had two children, Roxanna (Rockey), husband, Dean Lutge, and Bruce, wife, Laurie. In 1969, when the Monolith gypsum mine was closed in Ventucopa, our family transferred to Tehachapi, where Babe went to work at the Monolith cement plant, as a Master Mechanic. In 1980, when Babe retired, he and Jodi built the Wild Rose Station (convenience store and gas station), at Highway 202 and Tehachapi-Woodford Road, and they owned it for several years.

After selling the Wild Rose, Jodi and Babe built a vacation cabin, with their own hands, in Baja, California. They loved it there! While Babe spent much of his time pondering the water and taking naps in his hammock, Jodi enjoyed riding her jet ski, working puzzles, feeding the wild birds and visiting friends on the beach. In 2010, Babe passed away in Baja. Jodi sold their beach house and returned to Tehachapi. Jodi and Babe were married 60 beautiful years. Under the watchful eye of her family and many friends, she lived alone in her home until her passing.

Jodi had boundless love for her family. Always there with words of encouragement and sound advice, she captured the devotion and adoration of us all. Her passing has left us at a loss and with a deep emptiness. At the same time, we're thankful for the lifetime of great memories and the wisdom we gained from her life-experience. The family is richer and more cohesive because of her insistence that we stay connected. Her reunions, parties and gatherings helped bond the family.

Jodi, known as Granny to her family, had four grand children: Brandon, wife, Chris (children: Rue, Dean and Eli), Toni Silva, husband, Richard (children: Michael, Frank, Mykayla, and Ryanne), Tilli Hoyt, husband, Paul (children: Gabriel, Daniel, Angelina and Brooke), Luke Norris, partner, Crystal (children: Alexis, Drew, Mia and Mailie). She also had six great, great grand children (Tianna, Sebastian, Maya, Jessie, Jacob, and Jace) and three on the way.

Jodi always claimed her step grand children, (Elizabeth Gonzalez, Kyle Lutge, Cody Lutge, Kale Stevens, Jared Mikasa, Zach Mikasa (step great grandson, Carter) and Brian Mikasa, as her own, and she showered them with the same love and affection.

Besides her husband, Babe, Jodi was preceded in death by her grandson, (Rockey's son) Danny (Hoss), step grandson, John Lutge, four brothers (Bob, Dick, Don, and Bill), her sister, Carolyn, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Through all her losses, she was amazingly resilient and maintained her passion for living to her last day.

Mom, you were an amazing and beautiful person, overflowing with love, life and curiosity. We love you and will miss you forever.