Roberta Louise Norris

Roberta was born May 17, 1928 in Burlington, Iowa to Claude Hoke and Florence Wickham.

She was the 5th of six children. There were two brothers: Robert and Jack, and two sisters Yvonne Cook and Claudia Lyon. She was named "Roberta" by and for her oldest brother, Robert. Her youngest brother Richard joined her 3 years later. The family lived in Burlington until 1943 when they moved to Portland, OR, where her father went to work in the shipyard. After the war they all moved to first Oakland, CA and later to Redding.

Her love for children led her to a career in domestic childcare. She married Robert Norris in 1973; they lived in Chico for 27 years until his death when she returned to Redding to be near her 2 brothers Jack and Richard.

Her parents, and her brothers, Robert and Jack, and sister Claudia preceded her in death. Her sister, Yvonne of AL, and brother Richard of Redding, survive her. Roberta never had children of her own, but she is remembered and loved by her Nieces and Nephews; Larry Cook of AL, Jerry and Ray Hoke of IA, Sylvia Markham of TX, Randy Hoke of ID, Sandy Grones of FL, Marlene Habian of IL, Paul, Mark and Roger Lyon of IL, Tom Hoke of WA, Lynda Martz of Cottonwood, Russell Hoke of Rio Dell and Kenneth Hoke of NM.

She also leaves many great Nieces and Nephews. Roberta resided at Kutras Gardens for the last 10 years and leaves some very dear friends and neighbors there.

She fought a long brave battle with cancer since 2005 and finally gave up the fight and went to her new home with Jesus on Friday morning September 2, 2011 at the home of her brother Richard and his wife, Marilyn who had been giving her loving, 24 hour care for the last 2 weeks of her life, with the awesome help of Mercy Hospice. Hospice was always there with help and encouragement, which we greatly appreciated.

Dr. Stephen Campbell of the Nazarene church will be conducting graveside services at Lawncrest Memorial Park in Redding, at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday September 13, 2011. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel prior to the service.

Instead of flowers, if you like, you may make a donation to Mercy Hospice, 1544 Market Street. Redding, Ca 96001.