Thelma Louise Norris
March 19, 1914 — May 5, 2011
Thelma Norris, 97 years old, of Mesquite, NV, entered Heaven on May 5, 2011 at the Highland Manor in Mesquite where she had been living since December 2010.
Thelma was born Thelma Louise Colledge, the second daughter of Harry and Maude Colledge, in Cleveland, OH on March 19, 1914. She spent part of her childhood in Cleveland until the family moved to Ashtabula, OH on the banks of Lake Erie. She graduated from high school there and married Otto Norris on December 20, 1930. They celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in 1986.
Thelma worked for the Northeastern Ohio Girl Scout Council as an organizer of Girl Scout Troops and a trainer of leaders for all of northeastern Ohio. After years in scouting, Thelma worked as a secretary until her retirement in 1977, when the couple moved to California, living in Palm Desert, Hemet, and Riverside. Mr. Norris preceded her in death in April 1987. Thelma then moved back to Palm Desert, CA and finally to Mesquite in 2005.
She was a member of the Mesquite United Methodist Church and spent many hours at the Senior Center in Mesquite, where she loved to play cards and games. Thelma also was very adept at doing hand work, and her family and friends are the proud owners of many of her beautiful creations. She is also preceded in death by her sister, Helen Colledge, sister, Doris Monda, brother, Harry Colledge, and son-in-law, Jim Abbott.
She is survived by her two daughters, Carole Horst, of Palm Desert, CA, and Shirley Abbott, of Mesquite, NV, and her son, Dr. David Norris and wife Kay, of Boulder, CO. She had ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and also is survived by seven great-great-grandchildren.
No public services will be held. A private family service and scattering of ashes will be held in California as requested.
The family has requested that anyone wishing to make donations in her honor, may do so at two places: The Mesquite United Methodist Church at PO Box 2940, Mesquite, NV 89024, or to her son-in-law, James A Abbott's scholarship fund through the Mesquite Lions Club at PO Box 1208, Mesquite, NV 89024.