Norma Jean Hamblen

BURLEY – Norma “Jean” Curtis Hamblen, longtime Burley resident, died Thursday, September 19, 2024. She was 89.

Jean was born June 14, 1935, in Burley, Idaho, the first daughter to parents, Burdell Taylor and Norma Sidwell Curtis. She attended school in Declo, Idaho, until the 6th grade, before moving to Burley, where she graduated in 1955. Jean furthered her education at the University of Utah as a member of Alpha Phi sorority, and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1957. She returned to Burley with her husband, Robert, after graduation.

Jean met Robert D Hamblen in 8th grade, and began their relationship in college while both were living in Salt Lake City. They were married August 31, 1955, in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and enjoyed 61 wonderful years together traveling, seeing plays, and attending concerts. The two of them purchased the Mayfair clothing store in 1970, expanding it to include The Celler Men’s Shop in 1975, and adding International Travel in 1982.

In 1968, Jean began her teaching career at Southwest Elementary School where she taught-half day 4th grade for one year. She then changed to 1st grade, where she stayed for 32 years, finding her passion in teaching children to read. Jean finished her career at Mountain View Elementary, but she never truly stopped teaching. She helped her grandchildren and great-grandchildren learn to read, and continued to buy herself school supplies of pencils, red pens, crayons, and sticky notes every year. Jean was highly involved in education, and held positions as the president of the National Education Association and on the NEA negotiating team for many years.

Outside of school, Jean held memberships with the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Friends of the Library, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Book Club. She loved scrapbooking, reading, teaching, coloring, knitting dishcloths, and spending time with family, especially on girl’s trips to Cannon Beach, where she said she always felt her best.

Jean was very active in her church, where she was Junior Sunday School president, and a teacher in Junior Sunday School, Relief Society, and Primary (a position she enjoyed very much and was sad to retire from when the time came). She was the music coordinator for many years. She was also a visiting teacher and later, a ministering sister. Jean had a strong testimony of her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Those surviving her include: children, Amy Blauer of Declo and Robb Hamblen of Burley; four grandchildren, Sarah (Cody) Somsen of Declo, Matthew (Cheyann) Blauer of Declo, Emily (Patrick) Misner of Boise, and Jackie Hamblen of Boise; nine great-grandchildren, Jenicka, Jaren, Ty, Taylon, Brooklin, Jaxton, Gatlin, Gavin, and Elliot; four great-great-grandchildren, Addie, Hadley, Ariat, and Lucas; sister, Lynn Logan of Castle Rock, Colorado; niece, Heidi Sorenson; and nephew, Jason Thornton.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sister, LeAnn Sorenson; and her son-in-law, Duane Blauer.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 28, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Burley West Stake Center, located at 2420 Parke Avenue, in Burley, with Bishop Cade Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Declo Cemetery.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, September 27, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th Street, in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday, at the church, preceding the funeral.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/ohMsyrwPoyU.