Howard Gale Norman

They started back to the homestead on Wantland Gulch, near the Little Snake River 10 days later. Due to the snowfall that had occurred while in Craig, they left their wagon at the Scott place at the foot of Cedar Mountain, and continued on in a borrowed “Gully Jumper” sled equipped with bows, tarp, and hay for bedding. The first night was spent at the Thomas place about 15 miles from Craig, near the Midway schoolhouse.

This picture was taken the second day, while the horses took a blow while bogged in a snowdrift a few miles from Great Divide, on what is now County Road 5. They spent the second night in Great Divide, and made it home the next day.

Gales brother, and life long friend, Forrest E. (Bud) Norman was born Feb.27th 1924

Gale was about 2 years old when, after “proving up” on the homestead, they moved to Eads Co, in a horse drawn covered wagon. Dad said he remembered looking down at the cars and waving at them as they passed. They lived on a farm near Sandcreek Co. till 1926, before moving to the Eads Livestock Farm in the Prairie Queen District.

Around the spring of 1926 they moved back to the homestead at Great Divide in a 1917 Model T Truck. Dad still remembers the smell of the Rabbit Brush after a rain when they arrived home.

Dad immediately started the second grade when they got back, where he met the Dunns, Whites, and Brenners , who became life long friends. The Dunns are considered family to this day.

Gale had to come to Craig when he started High School. When the weather was good Gale, his brother Bud, and Don Dunn would drive to Craig and stay with Leo and Ruth Dunn during the school week. On the way back for the weekend they would sometimes give Curtis and Gene Murphy a ride home. Gale said that when the weather was bad, and they had the sides on and the top up on the Model T, it got pretty crowded which caused an occasional excursion into, and back out of, the barrow pit, which didn’t result in anything but a little thrill and a few moments of hilarity!

In 1940 His parents bought, and moved to, the Wooley Place. Which became the Norman place down on the river east of Craig.

After Graduation in 1940 Gale worked the harvest in Kansas for a couple of summers, which helped him buy his first truck. He then worked for Dick Wilson hauling gas, until his induction into the army June1943.

He went to Camp Roberts in California for his basic training. After basic he was promoted to corporal, and stayed at Camp Roberts to help train inductees. In 1944 he was promoted to Buck Sargent before being shipped to Italy. On his way to Newport News Virginia, he got off the train in Rawlins WY, where his fiancé Lois Margaret Whicker, and future father-in-law, Ben Whicker, picked him up and brought him to Craig. While in Craig, Gale and Lois decided to get married before he went overseas. They were married Sept.28th 1944. They had 8 or nine days before Gale boarded the train for Fort Meade. He spent his overseas tour in Naples, and Rome Italy. He was discharged from service at 8:00 AM, March 10, 1946 at Ft. Logan CO. When Gale got back to Craig, he and Lois finally got to go on a belated honeymoon to Denver before going to work.

Gale worked at several different jobs. He mostly drove truck, hauling about everything from bombs to wheat. He also bought and operated a couple of farms till he was in his 90’s. He also owned the Allis Chalmers tractor dealership.

Gale was very involved in the First Christian Church of Craig. He was a member of the Christian Endeavor youth group. He also served as a deacon, elder, Sunday school and bible study instructor. As well as helping start new churches in Vernal Utah, Rock Springs, and Rawlins WY

Gale is survived by his children: Marg Duzik, her husband Mike, and children Frank, Shayne, Charlotte, and Geoffrey . Marie Shaffer, her husband Joe, children David, and Daniel. Ruth Wright, her husband Beryl, children Emma, Flint, and Keith. Richard Norman, his wife Andrea and children Heather, Jessica, and Cody. Former son-in-law, Dan Haskins. 27 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, Parents, Howard and Emily Norman. Brothers, Francis and Forrest Norman. And grandson Trent Haskins.