HAM, Norris B. "Ham"
12-3-1941 to 6-6-2008
On June 6, 2008 the world lost a great Husband, father, grandpa, and friend. He lost his long battle with CLL (Chronic Lymphocyte Leukemia) after fighting it for 14 years. He didn't want anyone to know he was sick, and most people didn't for most of that time. He wanted to live his life as normal and full as he could. Norrie was born December 3, 1941 to Joyce and Frank Ham in Seattle, WA. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1960. He married his high school sweetheart Lois Condit, and they had two children, Frank and Kathy. Lois died in 1977. Norrie then found love again with Tammy Pennick. They married June 10, 1978 and would be together for 30 years. Together they had a son, Tye. Throughout the years Ham was a member of the Masonic Orchard Lodge #200. He was very involved with organizations such as Spokane Junior Hockey Association, raising and showing Quarter Horses and 4H through Greenacres Sheep Club. His latest great love was when Tye introduced him to Quads. Norrie and Tammy would travel to Moab, UT for an annual ride with friends. In 2007 Tye was able to meet them and ride together at Moab. Ham was planning their next trip for this September. He had many good times riding his ATV at Wallace ID. Riding in the mountains and trees, "It's like being in God's back yard," he would say. He was very involved with Back Country ATV and High Mountain ATV. He was also the primary sponsor for Tye's ATV racing and was able to see him take the checkered flag in his class at Southern Nevada Supermoto Challenge in April, 2008. Grandpa was great at giving rides on the quads. "Can we go again, Grandpa?" was a common line. Norrie was preceded in death by his parents, Lois, and son-in-law Matt. He leaves behind his wife Tammy; sons, of whom he was very proud, Frank and Tye; and daughter, "Daddy's little girl," Kathy and husband Johnny Calais. He also leaves behind his grandchildren: Wade, Lindsey, and Shaley Ham, Ashleigh and Nicholas Calais. Come join us for a "Celebration of Life" and a potluck at 3828 N Lynden Rd, Otis Orchards, WA, 99207, on June 14th at 1:00 PM. For information call 509-879-5690. We would like to invite everyone to come as you are, bring your stories, and have some fun. Just like Ham would have wanted it. Memorial Contributions can be made to: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, in memory of Norris Ham, P.O. Box 19023, Seattle WA, 98109-1023. We love you, Ham! We all now have a new guardian in the sky making his rounds aboard an ATV that is powered by angels' wings rather than petroleum. He will be remembered as always putting his family, his neighbors, and his friends before himself, and the world will turn a little slower for a while until we can fully accept that he is gone.
 

Norrie and I were friends from Jefferson Elementary through High School and his son, Tye, was in 4-H with my kids here in Spokane. He lost his first wife to cancer. He was a great guy and we shared many super memories. His wife and son remain our close friends.

Posted by:  Mike Stewart