It is said we should live our lives to the fullest, and Gayle did just that, her way. Born on New Year's Day of 1934 in Wichita, Kansas, Gayle started a new life, not knowing what she would bring to the world.
As a child, Gayle moved to live on a ranch in Elbert County, Colorado, where she developed her appreciation of rural life. A love she would embrace again and share with her children later in life. The family then moved the Southeast Denver, where she attended South High School and the University of Denver. During this time her family owned a small grocery store on the corner of South Clayton and Louisiana, which was later sold to her future husband's family.
Gayle Roberson and Garth Norris married in 1952, starting a family right away. Upon the arrival of their 3rd child, they decided it was time to build their own house, the infamous 10375 W Iliff Ave, in 1956. Garth, his Father, Grandfather, Uncle, and others helped build the house that was the homestead of the family for 37 years.
While building the house, which would later become a home to many, Gayle and Garth worked various jobs, while Garth continued attending Regis College as their family grew. The growing family required hard decisions and hard work to reach their goals. Garth left the family in Denver for his first year of Dental school in St. Louis, MO, at St. Louis University in 1959. Gayle later joined him in 1961, with six children in tow.
The family's time in St. Louis was very formidable, living on the 8th floor of the subsidized federal housing projects. Gayle embraced the move and gave her children the gift of accepting all of it as it was, and encouraged them to live it. She became involved in social justice issues on the front lines, including the first Head Start program. By the time Garth graduated, in 1964, they had seven children, and Gayle was pregnant with number eight. Upon their return from St Louis the family continued to grow with the birth of children eight and nine and moved back to their rural home in Jefferson County where they opened their door to many from near and far.
After 17 years, Gayle and Garth divorced. Gayle remained in the family home and later married Marvin Bishop. The house that had become a home to many over the years was where her youngest child, Michael, took his last breath at the age of six, surrounded by family and friends because Gayle fought for his right to die at home after a long battle with leukemia. The experience led her commitment to the Hospice movement and work with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. She was always ahead of the crowd.
Gayle and Marvin eventually divorced, and Gayle continued to take on the world, selling real estate, starting businesses, working as a victims advocate, working in senior low-income housing, embracing her role as Granny Gayle, and so much more.
Gayle is survived by her children, Teri Whelan, Garth "Joe" Norris Jr, Stephanie Haviland, Becky Norris, Kathi Stone, Tim Norris, Kevin Norris, and Chris Norris; her grandchildren, Becky Backo, Jeremy Norris, Alisha Luciano, Luke Norris, Kyle Brunger, Patty Valdez, J.C. Roberts, Christopher Norris, Barret Stone, Trenton Stone, Megan Norris, Rachel Norris, and Charlene "Charlie" Norris; her ten great-grandchildren; her sister Annajane Sanders; Gayle was preceded in death by son Michael Norris; her mother Gayle Holland; her sister Evelyn Hopkins.
Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, services will be postponed to a later date, allowing everyone to join together to celebrate her life.
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