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Kenai resident Norma Edda Lillard died Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, with loved ones by her side at her home. She was 79.

A gathering of family and friends in her honor was held Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Jerry and Melody Howell residence.

Mrs. Lillard was born Feb. 6, 1930, to Orville Nelson and Roxie Naomi (Geer) Handley in East Liverpool, Ohio. She worked 51 years as a waitress from Arizona to California. She loved to work and loved her job. She began working for The Sportsman Restaurant in Ventura, Calif., in 1962 from which she retired after 23 years in 1985. She moved to Kenai to be closer to family in 2003. Mrs. Lillard was a member of the Kenai Christian Church. "She loved anything living, flowers, puppies, kittens but most of all she loved chocolate," her family said.

"Norma Lillard brought a light to this world that could never be quite contained. Her kindness spilling over onto everyone she could reach. I knew Norma in her role as a grandmother to me and my first cousins, Chantel and Micah. I knew Norma in her role as a wife to my Grandpa, George. But my Grandmothers most audacious role was that of a mother to my mother, Melody Howell, and my uncle, Stephen Lillard," said her granddaughter, Nicole. "I'd venture to say she was a great deal more than what we saw, a great deal more than who we loved. I miss your smile. Thank you for a lifetime of memories, laughs, and brilliant moments."

Mrs. Lillard was preceded in death by her husband, George Lillard; parents; brother, Jack Handley; sisters, Naomi Hustler and Nell Adams; and son, Stephen Lillard.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Melody and Jerry Howell; daughter-in-law, Leslie Daniel; granddaughters, Nicole Balduf and Chantel Lillard; grandson, Micah Lillard; great-grandsons, Alex, Simon and Milo; sisters, Virginia Youree, Promise Rodgers and Geri Handley; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.