Evelyn Alice Norman

Evelyn was born in Seattle, Washington on April 21, 1915, the oldest of three children born to Carl and Grace Molander. Evelyn grew up in Seattle and Everett, Washington where her beloved father was an engineer with the Great Northern Railroad. She graduated early from Queen Anne High School in Seattle, and moved to California to attend Glad Tidings Bible College, graduating in 1935. Ordained as an Assembly of God minister in 1941, Evelyn spent the next seventeen years traveling the United States as an Evangelist. Evelyn also started the Assembly of God churches in Brooks and Stayton, Oregon, and Springdale, Washington. During those years, as a preacher and single woman, she faced many challenges and had many adventures.

In 1952, while preaching at an Assembly of God church in North Bend, Oregon, she met a handsome bachelor named J.R. Harrington. They were married December 10, 1952 and resided in the North Bend/Coos Bay area until J.R.’s retirement from the DMV, when they returned to the Salem area.

J.R. and Evelyn had one child, a daughter, Nancy. After becoming a wife and mother, Evelyn retired from full time Christian ministry. Always a woman ahead of her time, for the next twenty years she owned and operated a large chicken ranch which supplied eggs to many stores and restaurants along the southern Oregon coast.

J.R. passed away in January, 2000, and in September, 2000, Evelyn married a dashing widower named Iver Norman. They were married for 11 happy years. Iver preceded Evelyn in death on September 22, 2011.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Ron) Wright, grandson Aaron (Corey) Wright, and granddaughter Alyssa Wright, all of Salem. Evelyn also leaves three step-children, Marti (Rex) Smith of Vancouver, WA, Richard (Judy) Norman of San Clemente, CA, and Bonnie (Homer) Still of Bokoshe, OK. Also surviving are her brother, Carl (Belle) Molander of Seattle, WA, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Dr. William Gillespie, and the staff of Salem Clinic, the pharmacists and staff of Keizer Bi-Mart, and the staff of Willamette Valley Hospice. Your kindness to Evelyn and Iver will never be forgotten.

A member of Brooks Assembly of God Church, Evelyn’s funeral arrangements are through Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home. A Celebration of Evelyn’s life will be on Wednesday, December 14,

1pm, at the Brooks Assembly of God Church. Visitation will be at 12pm, at the church prior to the service. If you wish to make a donation in lieu of flowers, please send your gifts to Brooks Assembly of God Church, or the Willamette Valley Hospice.

Evelyn became a follower of Jesus Christ in high school, because she saw something special in the life of a friend. Evelyn remained true to her Lord and Savior for 80 years. The deep desire of her heart was to lead others to the Lord. Now she resides in Glory and Christ himself says “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”