Norma Jane Thayer

Norma Jane “Tierney” (MacCallum) Thayer passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, Oct 17, 2020, at the age of 86. At the time of her death, she was a resident of the Wellstar Paulding Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Dallas, GA. Born in Everett, MA on Feb 13, 1934, Tierney grew up in Everett as an only child, but spent summers with her cousins in Canada. Young Tierney was a musical prodigy who began playing the piano when she was seven. Tierney graduated from Everett High School in Everett, MA when she was 16 years old. Over the years, Tierney was a professional singer and pianist working in Boston. She loved to sing opera, but on the piano she enjoyed playing praise songs and boogie-woogie. She also loved to roller skate and ice skate in her youth and young adulthood. As an adult, Tierney was a devoted and gifted music teacher, working in Bellingham, MA, before working in Bradenton, FL and later in Murphy, NC. Tierney was also devoted to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She enjoyed leading Bible studies and many have credited her with being instrumental in their acceptance of Christ and being a guide in their early walk as a Christian. She lived an extraordinary life and had extraordinary stories that she loved to share as a result. Tierney married Donald Thayer of Bellingham, MA in 1965 and he was truly the love of her life. Tierney and Donald moved with their younger children to Bradenton, FL in 1975, where they lived for 19 years until moving to North Carolina in 1994. Tierney spent a year living in England with her youngest daughter in 2002-2003, which she considered to be a true highlight of her life! Surviving are her four children: Wendy Lane of Starke, FL; Pamela (Kevin) Keough of Blairsville, GA; Rodd (Sunny) Thayer of Acworth, GA; and Tenley Thayer of Villa Rica, GA; five step-children: Don (Shannon) of San Antonio, TX; Peg (Chris) Boutillette, of Worcester, MA; Kim-Laurie (Bob) Thayer of Putnam, CT; Jim Thayer of CA; Ross (Pam) Thayer of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; nine grandchildren and 16 step-grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren and 27 step-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her former spouse and father of her oldest two daughters, Loren Francis, of Starke, FL. She is preceded in death by her father, Howard George MacCallum; her mother, Evelyn Yorke MacCallum Seagrave; her husband, Donald Raymond Thayer; and one step-son, David Earl Thayer. Along with her chosen name of Tierney, she loved being called “Pompa”, the name bestowed upon her by her eldest grandchild at the age of two years. A private family service will be held in Blairsville, GA on November 7, 2020. Tierney will be buried next to her husband and mother in Liberty Community Cemetery in Murphy, NC. In lieu of flowers, the decedent and her family request that donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.