Evelyn Vera (Sutherland) Norman
Marriages
Glen Norman - April 18, 1946
Burial Details
Obituaries
Free Enterprise page 8 - January 2, 2014
1925 — 2013
Evelyn Vera Norman died Dec. 13 in Cope, CO. She was 88.
Evelyn was born April 26, 1925 to Elmer and Lucille Sutherland. She grew up in Arriba, Colorado, and graduated from Arriba High School in May, 1943 as one of only nine students. She grew up during the height of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, and came of age at the end of World War II. After losing her own mother when she was only 8 years old, she became cook ,homemaker and “mother” to her two younger brothers. Because of these experiences, she became very frugal and resourceful, and she always kept anything that might have some use in the future. She never stopped missing her own mother, and so was fiercely loyal and supportive of her own children and grandchildren throughout her life.
Evelyn’s favorite pastime in high school was roller skating — and she was good at it. She met her future husband, Glen Norman, on the roller skating rink. They were married on April 18,1946, and enjoyed 67 years together.
Evelyn and Glen, along with his brothers, opened the Norman Food Bank and locker plant in Cope in 1949. It later became the Cope Grocery Store. They helped form a co-operative to buy and maintain a large electric generator, bringing 24 hour electricity to Cope for the first time. The generator also powered the first neon sign, in the window of the Cope Garage, which they also owned.
In April, 1955, Evelyn and Glen bought a ranch and moved to the mountains near Eagle. Evelyn had a large garden, and canned bushels of fruit every year while Glen raised cattle and put up hay. They improved, expanded, and mechanized the ranch over the years while their four children were growing up. In 1972, they retired to Rifle, and started spending winters in Quartzsite, Arizona. She loved spending time with their many friends there, and taking road trips to explore the country side. One of her favorite things was working at the Salvation Army store, unpacking each new batch of “treasures” that came in to the store.
In 1985, the Normans moved to Yuma, coming home to the eastern plains of their youth. Glen helped his sons with the farming while Evelyn nurtured her gardens and cherished her home. In 2008, because of ill health, she and Glen moved to Cope in order to be closer to their sons and daughters-in-law. She endured some tough challenges over the last few years, but she was blessed by the laughter and gentle caring that Tina and Paula brought with them every time they came through the door.
Evelyn had a gift of turning every house she lived in into a home. She could take simple things and create a place that was both cozy and beautiful. Everyone was always welcomed and made to feel at home with a bright smile and a “Come in, sit down, and have some coffee. “ She loved to visit and hear stories and to laugh. She never tired of hearing about her grandchildren and always wanted to know what they were doing.
Evelyn was preceeded in death by her parents, her sister Gerry, brothers Alfred, Melvyn andElton.
She is survived by Glen, her husband of 67 years, her daughters Jo Ann Loudy (Bill) of Tendoy, Idaho; Debbie Duley (Walt) of Glenwood Springs; and sons Doug Norman (Paula) and Kirk Norman (Tina) of Cope. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, Bobbi Jo Duley of Encinitas, Calif.;Travis Duley, of Tempe,Ariz.; Shannon Johnson (Brad) of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Erin Loudy (Tim) of Boise, Idaho; Carrie Gage (Jeremy) of New Braunfels, Texas; Georgia Kay Thompson (Dave) of Littleton; Jill Norman (Jace) of Denver; Jana Barrett (Jeff) of Littleton; Clinton Norman of Cope; Ava Coy (Joe) of Commerce City; Amanda Norman of Little Rock, Ark.; Whitney Benton (Nik) of Joes; and Webb Norman (Tiffany) of Sterling; and by nine great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Dec. 20 at the Cope Community Church with Pastor Terry Covert officiating. Interment followed at the Cope Cemetery. Baucke Funeral Home directed the services.
