Frances G. Norton

Born September 24, 1924

Albany, NY

Died June 20, 2011

Aurora, CO

Wife of 63 plus years to Philip Frederick Norton, Sr.

Loving and caring mother to sons Philip Jr and Craig and daughters Deborah and Lisa Beth

Fran was a simple individual who enjoyed being with family and friends. She did not need nor require material items. She often referred to material goods as “frills”.

Born and raised in Albany, New York, she worked for her family’s corner grocery store. She met a young chap by the name of Philip Norton and married in November of 1946.

In 1959 the station wagon was packed and the family moved west to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Fran took quickly to her family’s new life in New Mexico; and being the excellent cook that she was, she began to immerse herself in the regional cuisine. She not only enjoyed eating Mexican food, but she prepared a lot of dishes unique to New Mexico.

Being a mother of three and subsequently a fourth, Fran was truly a working mom. She used her mathematical skills learned as a cashier at the family corner grocery store in Albany to become a bookkeeper, administrative assistant, and office manager in such diverse industries as NY state department of Motor Vehicles, hospital administration, electronics manufacturing, and public utilities. She also enjoyed being involved in her community service. Friends and family remember her working a ten (10) key on election nights for the ever important elections results.

Fran enjoyed theatre, music, reading, and always made sure her children had the opportunity to be exposed to the arts. She enjoyed attending plays produced by the local theatre company in Raton; and, she made it a point to attend concerts and plays produced at the high school. She enjoyed the opera and had several special outings to the Santa Fe Opera House. Not really a sports fan, she did however encourage her sons to play baseball and attended all their games. She also sat with her husband watching Bronco games. Even after his passing in honor of him and his memory she continued with the Sunday ritual.

After retirement, Fran and Phil took advantage of their new life by moving to Colorado. Never sitting still however, they travelled to Las Vegas, Washington DC, California, New York, Rockies spring training in Arizona, took a train trip from Vancouver to Toronto and took an Alaskan cruise, travelled to Salt Lake City to hear the Mormon Tabernacle choir perform at Christmas time. After Phil’s passing, Fran continued her travels to such diverse locations as Palm Springs, Orange County California, New Mexico, San Francisco, and San Antonio.

She will best be remembered as a true family woman, raising four children, and being a loving wife to a man who adored her. She was kind, gentle yet firm, understanding, always ready to carry on a conversation, but most of all, was always concerned about everyone else’s well being before her own.

Fran has been taken from her family and friends but will continue to love, care, and watch over each and every one of them from the Heavens above.