Evelyn Norman

1938 - 2013

Evelyn Ruth Norman

January 20, 1938 - June 2, 2013

Evelyn Ruth Norman, 75, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 2, 2013, after a brief battle with cancer. Evelyn was born on January 20, 1938, in Brawley, California to Nelson and Ruth Norman. As a young girl she moved with her family to Whitten, Iowa, where she grew up on the family farm. She graduated from Whitten High School in a class of just 9 students, whom she kept in contact with throughout her lifetime. After attending business college in Des Moines, Iowa she worked at the Still College of Osteopathy as secretary to the dean. In 1962 she married Theodore Norman and moved to the West Coast.

Evelyn raised four daughters in Salem, Oregon. While her daughters were young she was a homemaker and stay-at-home mother. Once the children were older, Evelyn re-entered the job force at Chemeketa Community College. From there she moved on to a job with the Oregon State Police Identification Bureau and then transferred to the State Fire Marshal's office. As receptionist for the State Fire Marshal's office, she is remembered for greeting everyone with a smile, having a contagious laugh and always being quick with a joke or two. She loved to write poems and was best known for writing a fun and personal poem for every retiree. Evelyn loved to smile, and, more importantly, she loved to make others smile.

Evelyn enjoyed doing cross-stitch, reading, and playing bridge. She found joy in music, especially when she played the clarinet, the piano or sang. Most of all, she loved the beach where she found peace and solace.

Evelyn lived the last year and a half of her life at Lakeside Assisted Living in Stayton, where she was loved for her engaging sense of humor and sweet smile. The family would like to thank the Lakeside staff for taking such good care of her and always doing so with kindness and compassion.

She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Suzanne Kailey, Lisa Wilson, Angela Redmon, and Jennifer Mannetti. She was a wonderful grandmother to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also left behind her loving niece Janis Capraro, brother Robert Norman and his wife Peggy, sister-in-law Lil Norman and nieces Kerri and Jamie. Her parents and younger brother, Mike, were there to greet her when she entered Heaven to be with the Lord. A private gathering will be held later this summer to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the humane society of your choice.

Evelyn's favorite poem by an anonymous author is one of hope and compassion:

If any little word of ours

Can make one life the brighter,

If any little song of ours

Can make one heart the lighter,

God help us speak that little word

And take our bit of singing,

And drop it in some lonely vale,

And set the echoes ringing.

Your pain and suffering is over, Mom, and you can now rest in peace. We look forward to the day when we can be together again.