Norma G. Smith, 101, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Maquoketa Care Center in Maquoketa, Iowa.

Norma Geraldine Smith was born on September 13, 1924, in Canton, Iowa, to Norman and Grace (Shirk) McGaffee.  She graduated from Maquoketa High School.  She married Edwin L. Smith on July 14, 1943, in Boston, Massachusetts.  Soon after Edwin was shipped to war in the Pacific, Norma left for San Francisco where she worked as a “Rosie the Rivet” crew in a shipyard.  She was tasked with welding inside the bow of ships because of her slender size.  After the war Norma reunited with Edwin in San Francisco and they moved to Los Angeles.  Norma worked many jobs in the Los Angeles area and was an active member of the Hollywood Presbyterian Church.  She was an avid reader, many nights falling asleep with a good book. Together Norma and Edwin retired to Arizona before returning to Maquoketa.

Those left to honor her memory include her son, Bradley (Stacy) Smith of Ojai, CA; and siblings Betty Visilik of Maquoketa, Jeanette McGaffee of California, Wanda Pegorick of Wyoming, IA, Ann (Neal) Miller of Maquoketa, Virginia (Chuck) Hulen of CA, John (Simone) McGaffee of CA, Kay (Michael) Weiss of CA, Donna McGaffee of CA, and Donald (Karen) McGaffee of CA.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Lewis McGaffee, and sister Mary Bowman.

A celebration of Norma’s life will be held at Faith Community Church in Maquoketa at a later date.  Burial will be held in Hickory Grove Cemetery, rural Monmouth.  The Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.CarsonAndSon.com.