Norma Irene Bays

She passed away quietly in her home while on Hospice Care, visited by her family and friends, attended to by her daughter Melissa Bays and her Grandson Trevor Stevens.

Norma, originally Norma Irene Welt, grew up in Lakewood Colorado in the early 40s. Back then it was spread out farm land, neighbors and walking to school a few miles down the road. She lived with her Father Ira and her Mother Mary, as well as her older siblings Marylou, Don, and Vicki. She was the youngest one by a considerable amount of years but she was always in the thoughts of her loving siblings who ended up moving out farther away. She grew up helping her Dad out in the gardens, the farm and tending to the animals with the help of her Grandfather Frank. When she was a little older, her family moved out to Conifer Colorado where they lived on a Ranch. Norma spent her formative early teens out in the Ranch, attending a school of only a few children and loving every second she got to spend with her Donkey, the chickens, her ducks, as well as the several barn cats that hung around.

Her Father Ira moved the family once again for a final time to Westminster Colorado. Norma attended Westminster High School, drove a car she nicknamed “The Green Meanie” and spent her days with her best friend Beverly Schrum. In High School, Norma excelled at Chemistry and had dreams of joining the FBI, putting her skills in logic to use out in catching the country’s most wanted criminals. However, as graduation approached, Norma spent some part time work at the local DrugStore (Pharmacy) which happened to have a soda fountain. She would spend her time there either working or doing her homework when she had time. It was on one of those days when she was doing her homework that she met Marvin Bays, who walked in with his brother Wayne who was a working Pharmacist, to discuss purchasing the very drugstore Norma was working at. It was on this day that she met Marvin, who mistook her for a school teacher grading papers. He casually approached Norma and started a conversation.

She met with him several times afterwards and would let him walk with her to and from work. They would sometimes go to a place called the “Luck Irish” where they had their first date. In Norma’s words, after Marvin kissed her goodnight on one of their outings, “We were together quite often”.

Norma Irene Welt became Norma Irene Bays on June 28th, 1956 at 7 o’clock at the Chapel of Angels at 7177 West Colfax Avenue, Denver Colorado; happily married to Marvin Leon Bays.

From then on her career changed focus from the FBI to being in charge of a business. Her and Marvin opened their first store in Vail Colorado. Marvin trained as Watchmaker and Clockmaker while Norma would run the storefront and manage accounts. After doing some rough apartment living they purchased their home around 1960 and brought Melissa Bays into the world in 1962. Now a Mother, Norma worked diligently to keep her family safe and intact. But of course it was the 60s and Norma would send her daughter alone on a bus to be with her Father. A rather long and arduous trip for a six year old child if you think about it, but hey! It was the 60s!

Norma brought another child into the fold with Lorrie, who was adopted at four years old in 1967. Three years later a bouncing baby boy by the name of his Father, Marvin Bays. They don’t do the whole Senior and Junior honorifics however.

In 1972, Norma and Marvin moved their business from Vail down to its near-permanent location at 72nd and Pecos and named it The Wax Watch, where Norma would work tirelessly to be a pillar of her community and serve the interests of her customers as well as her home city of Westminster (even though the store was technically in Denver). She attended all of her son’s Soccer games, she made sure Melissa was prepped for her ballet recitals and shared her love with everyone she met.

Through the decades Norma touched the lives of many individuals and families. From her customers who sought her out well after her husband’s passing in 2012, to her business partners such as Steve the Jeweler, or Bob who was also a Watchmaker. Her friends were never far away either, her best friend Beverly kept up with her throughout the years and always wanted to see her off to lunch on a nice day. Norma’s family loved her immensely and she was always at the centerfold of any family event, helping out where she could, making sure everything went as planned and always there to talk to if someone was struggling.

She could make anyone feel like they belong, no matter their creed, or culture, their politics or their personal identity, Norma was a people person at heart.

Her door and heart was always open and now it is eternal.

Norma Irene Bays is survived by her next of kin: her daughter Melissa Bays, her son Marvin Lee Bays with his Wife Asha Bays and her Grandson Trevor Stevens.

Norma will forever be loved and forever be missed.

I love you Nana. I hope Papa is with you and you’re having a good time sailing around those mysterious waters on the other side.

Love,

Trevor Stevens (Grandson)