Lois Aleta Norris

Jan.14, 1923 -- Nov. 19,2013

Lois Aleta Norris was born to Charles and Leta Clark on January 14, 1923 in Sacramento, Calif where they lived until moving to El Dorado in 1926. They settled on property at the intersection of Highway 49 and old Highway 50. The family worked to clear the corner of briars and burned bricks from the 1923 fire that had devastated El Dorado. There Chick and Leta built a small grocery store with living space in the

back. Lois and her sister Myrtle attended grammar school in town and later El Dorado High School, Where Lois graduated in 1940. Lois's husband, Bob and both children graduated from the same high school. During high school Lois worked at her parents business which had changed from a grocery store to a restaurant. Lois and Bob met while she was working in the restaurant and Bob was managing the Standard service station on the opposite corner. Bob's father died in June of 1940 and Bob immediately left to take over management of his father's Cattle Ranch, the Andorno, in northern Nevada. Letters kept the romance going and they were married November 26, 1941 and returned to the ranch. Lois and Bob loved ranch life. She learned to harness and drive a team of horses, ride to round up cattle, take care of orphan lambs, open and stitch up chicken gullets when they had swallowed a burr, and cook for a hay crew on wood stoves. Their daughter, Janet, was born in Winnemucca, NV. In 1947 they reluctantly sold the ranch and moved back to the El Dorado and Placerville area. Bob worked as a mechanic then eventually purchased the Studebaker dealership known as Mountain Motors. A son, Robert, was born at Placerville and the family was complete. Lois worked in her parents' restaurant part time until 1958 when she began her postal career. December 1977 Lois was appointed Postmaster of the El Dorado Post Office where she served the community until her retirement in 1989. She and Bob moved to the property on El Dorado Road, built a small home, and she began gardening in earnest. Lois and Bob turned an oak-treed 1 1/3 acres into a park with all kinds of trees and flowers. Bob passed away January 05, 2002 and Lois missed him terribly but continued on her own until her son, Bob, and daughter-i n-Law, Dori, came to help her

in 2005. She remained an active gardener into her 90th year. She was repeatedly asked not to rake leaves or pull weeds but did those activities anyway. If you didn't know

where she was, you only had to look around the yard and you would find her out there worki ng. Lois is survived by her daughter, Janet Barnes.. (husband Bill) of Marysville, WA. her son Robert C. Norris (wife Dori) of El Dorado, CA. five grandchildren: Carrie, Heather and David Barnes, Cody Norris and Jacqueline Huntington. She is also survived by eight great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.