Jo S. Norton

Jo S. Norton, age 86, of Climax Springs, passed away Friday evening, September 17, 2009, at the Laurie Care Center. She was born January 5, 1923, in Scott City, Kansas, the daughter of the late Royce and Marcia Deane Conley Starrett. On August 4, 1973, in Scott City, Kansas, she was united in marriage to Sanford Norton, who survives of the home. Jo spent her childhood in various places in Kansas, but moved to Eads, Colorado, to finish high school where she was class president of her senior class. While in high school, she won several first place awards in excellence at the state level. In 1940, she attended college at Hebron, Nebraska, where she was named editor of the school newspaper during her sophomore year. The advent of WWII closed the college and Jo moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, to become a, “Rosie the Riveter” in one of the many factory jobs vacated by men called to war. In 1943, Jo enlisted in the Women’s Army Air Corp and served out the war by touring the country giving lectures in a traveling air show called, “Shot from the Sky”. She was also trained as a bombardier in training runs over the deserts of Arizona. She married in 1945, and became the mother of five children. After the tragic death of her husband in 1963, she raised her large family single-handedly working as an office manager until her second marriage at the age of 50. Lucky in marriage, she welcomed four new step-children to her family. A lover of reading and music, and a writer in her own right, she will be forever remembered by her family and all who knew her as a classy lady who loved and was loved by all. In addition to her husband, Sanford, she is survived by three sons, Gary D. Eadens and wife Cookie of Wichita, Kansas, Christopher Eadens and wife Gerry of Prairieville, Kansas, and David Norton of Enid, Oklahoma; six daughters, Janet E. Ladd and Michael Zimmerman of Napa Valley, California, Catherine E. Burgos and husband Andre of Warwick, New York, Susan E. King and husband David of Olathe, Kansas, Debbie Wilson and husband Myron of Wichita, Kansas, Marsha Norton of Wichita, Kansas, and Susan Goodwin and husband Marvin of Woodward, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Marcia Deane Lehmann and Carolyn Becker, and a granddaughter, Carrie Ann Newby. A memorial visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, September 20, at the Kidwell-Garber Laurie/Sunrise Beach Chapel. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be left online at www.kidwellgarber.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kidwell-Garber Laurie/Sunrise Beach Chapel.

Jo S. Norton

September 17, 2009

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Jo S. Norton

September 17, 2009

About Us

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