Norma Harms Strickland, 83, of California, MD died November 17, 2007 at home of cancer.

She was born February 21, 1924 in Cole Camp, MO. Her parents were of the late Arthur and Emma (Kaiser) Harms. She attended St. John's Lutheran Day School in Cole Camp, MO and graduated from Cole Camp High School. She received a B.S. in Education from the University of Missouri, and a B.A. and M.F.A. from the Kansas City Art Institute. During summer breaks, Norma did additional coursework at Temple University, Columbia University, and Parsons School of Design. From 1950 through 1981, Norma taught courses in the art department at St. Mary's College of Maryland following the development of the institution from a high-school/junior college to a 4-year liberal arts college.

Norma worked many jobs during her college career: in 1942 she was a maid for the Kansas City political Pendergast family; from 1944 to the end of World War II she worked as a machine operator for Pratt and Whitney; in 1947 Norma worked for Hallmark Greeting Card Co. designing greeting cards and prior to assuming the teaching position at St. Mary's she worked for an innovative entrepreneur designing flocking for sportswear – the forerunner of today's logo branding.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Gardner Strickland whom she married in 1955. She is survived by a step-sister, Louella Schlesselman of Cole Camp; a half-sister, Wilma Bahrenburg of Cole Camp and a half-brother, Olem Harms of Oak Grove, MO; her children, Susan Thompson (Sam)of California, MD, Dianna Clemens (Jeff) of Chase City, VA, Scott Strickland (Susan) of St. Inigoes, MD and six grandchildren.

A Memorial Service was held on November 21, 2007 in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, MD. Pastor Stephen Updegrave conducted the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the HOSPICE House of St. Mary's c/o HOSPICE of St. Mary's, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or Trinity Lutheran Church, 46707 Shangri-la Drive, Lexington Park, MD 20653.

Inurnment will be private.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD.