Leona Francis Norton
January 29, 1918 - July 17, 2017
Obituary
Leona Francis Norton
January 29 1918 to July 17 2017
Leona F. Norton passed away peacefully on July 17, 2017 in the town of Sublimity, Oregon at the age of 991/2. She was born to Raymond and Alma Dagit in Jefferson, Iowa. Leona was third oldest of 11 children in a farming family. The family moved from Jefferson to Churdan, Iowa when she was an infant. Leona graduated from Churdan High School in 1936 as the class salutatorian. The family eventually relocated to Williams, Iowa where they continued to farm..
Leona left the farming life behind and attended trade school in Des Moines, Iowa before leaving the mid-west behind and moving to Seattle, Washington. She was employed as a secretary at a financial company before meeting her future husband Donald O. Norton. Leona and Don were married for 63 years until Don’s passing in 2007.
Leona is survived by three sisters; Phyllis Olson, Elsie Miller, and Mary Lapp. She leaves behind a wonderful family that includes three children; David Norton (Margaret), Pat Crozier (Jim), and Dale Norton (Sheila), 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Family was the most important thing in Leona’s life. She was a master seamstress, accomplished cook and loving mother. She and Don enjoyed many trips across the United States and abroad. Numerous weekends were also spent at their water front property on Puget Sound in Olympia.
Leona also gave back to the community by volunteering at Virginia Mason Medical Center and the Northwest Kidney Center in downtown Seattle. She was honored in 2000 for her 7081 hours of service at Virginia Mason alone at the age of 82.
Leona will be laid to rest next to Don at Washington Memorial Park with a graveside service on August 3, 2017. A celebration of life for family and friends will be held in the fall.
Leona will be greatly missed by the extended Norton family.
I am sorry to hear of her passing. I remember Leona as a wonderful woman.