Marilyn Louise (Anderson) Norton, 88, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on June 21, 2020.
Marilyn was born in Weiser, Idaho on July 28, 1931 to Laurel John and Edith Haslam (Archibald) Anderson. Marilyn married her husband Joseph Clair Norton in Weiser, Idaho on October 28, 1949. They were blessed with 8 children while living in Idaho and 2 more children joined the family after moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964.
Marilyn was not your typical grandma. She wasn’t the sweet old lady that baked or put a band-aid on your boo-boo. She didn’t coddle us, but she did love us. She was a strong and independent woman. She was the designated driver when her friends in Vegas would drive to the beach because the rest of the ladies were too anxious about navigating an unfamiliar city. She didn’t drive like a grandma. She wasn’t afraid to climb up on a roof to fix it, even when she was pregnant. Or drive herself to the hospital when she was in labor. She would just take care of whatever needed to be done.
Marilyn was one tough lady. She enjoyed telling stories about growing up on a farm without plumbing in Oregon. She was proud of having raised ten kids. She knew the deep snow of Idaho and West Virginia and the desert heat of Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Marilyn loved her husband very much. Since he passed away nearly two decades ago, she spoke often of wanting to be with him again. It seems appropriate that our mom has been reunited with our dad on this day, Father’s Day.
Marilyn easily made friends everywhere she went and will be missed by many.
Marilyn is survived by her children: Joseph (Kelly), Connie (Rodger Summers), Patricia (David Oakden), Alice (Brad Thurston), Susan (Stephen Dart), Chris (KC), Jon (Tammy), Michelle (Jeremy Luquin); Daughters-In-Law Phyllis (Philip Norton) and Marilyn (Steven Norton; 41 grandchildren and 92 great-grandchildren.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents Laurel John and Edith Haslam (Archibald) Anderson.
Her husband Joseph Clair Norton, sons Philip Loran and Steven Thomas Norton and her brother Laurel Dean Anderson.
I love you ,Mom. Miss you.
Our sincere condolences, love and prayers go out to our dear cousins at this time of your loss of your mother and grandmother. My sisters and I wish we could be there with you but our thoughts will be. Your mother was just as you described. Always had a welcome sign on her door and heart for her nieces and nephews as well as her own family.
Love, Sherrie, Gayle, Betty, Kymm
We love you Mom.
She will be missed. Being in her presence made me smile. Such a warm, sweet lady. What a sweet reunion she’s having with her husband. We love you Marilyn!
So grateful to belong to a forever family, I love you Mom.
We Love you Grandma / Great Grandma -Vaughan family
A poem I wrote about my mother tells my feelings best. We will always love you and we know we will see you again. Come visit when you have time.
Mom’s Poem
Your home was never way too full.
There was always room for more.
Another plate upon the table,
A knock upon the door.
You welcomed unexpected guests,
Not too busy or too shy.
They always knew your door was open
As they happened to pass by.
And when you’d undertake a task
You’d approach it with such zeal.
So many children of the ward
Your love you’d make them feel.
They all would call you grandma,
Perhaps they thought it true.
For they were never turned away
When they would come to you.
And when it came to your own kids,
Such a legacy you made.
With generosity and love,
You taught and you forgave.
Now with each generation,
You still have love to show.
With every new addition,
Your heart just seems to grow.
~ Michelle
Love Always and Forever ~ Michelle & Jeremy Luquin
Our sincere condolences from the Saenz Family
Our sincere condolences to you Pat & Alice. God bless you in this time of grieving and missing her. Families are FOREVER ❤️!
One of my favorite memories of Grandma happened when I was a kid. My family was visiting Grandma in Vegas and I was sleeping on the pullout sofa in the living room. I woke up one morning to whispers coming from the kitchen. I cannot remember exactly what was said, but Grandma and Grandpa were expressing their love to each other. It was the first time I realized the depth of their love for one another.
I love you so much, Grandma. I will never forget our talks or your wisdom. You will always be an inspiration for me because you were so headstrong and blunt because you didn’t believe in beating around the bush. I miss you so much already.
Aw. Marilyn was a sweetie BUT she was also sassy and great fun to be with. I loved going out to eat with her and friends or go to movies. We’d always laugh like crazy. What cool stories she told us. You know she was a process server, right? A mom of ten!! Marilyn always got me the funniest cards for my birthday. I could depend on her witty card picks to make me lol. I wish we could’ve been with her the last few months after her last fall. It would’ve cheered her up, I’m positive!! Darn this pandemic! I will miss seeing her in her usual spot at church (if it’s ever safe to go back!) Love you Marilyn. I’m going to miss you but we’ll meet again. Gail
Today on my way to work a hummingbird appeared in front of my windshield.
Marilyn came to mind.
I thought what a great symbolic image of her life.
I thought of her as a mother raising 10 children
I thought of all people she started conversations with friends or strangers.
I thought of the many phone calls she made daily checking up on friends and family.
I think every time now, I see a Hummingbird
Marilyn will come to mind.
We love you mom, you were my second mom. Took me in like one of your own. I will miss you forever. Til we meet again. I love you with all my heart.
I can’t properly put into words all my thoughts, but I love and miss you so much Grandma. I’m so grateful for the time I had with you, and my ultimate goal is to be as carefree, brave, and hilarious as you.
We are so sorry to hear the loss of a wonderful matriarch of the Norton dynasty. Pat , Alice and the whole family, we are sending our prayers of love and condolences to you all.
The heavens are singing her welcome and your dad is so happy to see her. May the Lord bring you all peace.
Sending Marilyn’s family our love and heartfelt condolences.
May God’s love be strong with you at this time and always. With love in my heart ❤️
I love you Mom! You will be forever in my 💓! You are a very beautiful woman! May you be happy being reunited with Dad!