Rose Louise Norman

Our most beloved and precious Mother, Rose Louise Norman passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice surrounded by her family and her friends. Rose was born February 10, 1922 in Indianola, Mississippi, to Robert Lee Scott and Louisa Catherine Clopton Scott. Upon her graduation from high school, her older sister Robbie Lee Scott invited Rose to come to Texas where Robbie was nursing. Robbie found a wonderful family for her sister to live with, Clifford and Annie Laurie Burrows and a daughter Gwen. They became her lifelong friends and Gwen became her honorary little sister. During WWII, Rose enlisted in the Navy and went to training at Hunter College in New York. She was so proud to be a W.A.V.E. After the war, Rose went to Roswell, NM where her sister Pauline and Brother-in-law Tyrus Lehman were living. It was through their friends that Rose met the love of her life, Larry Norman. They were married on May 23, 1950 in Carlsbad, NM. Larry took a job as a radio engineer in Rexburg, Idaho and it was there they welcomed their first born daughter, Cathy Fay. They moved to Alamogordo, NM in 1951 when Larry took a job at Holloman Air Force base. In Alamogordo they moved across the street from the Walter Bettes family. They became lifelong friends and the families enjoyed so many things together. In Alamogordo, they welcomed their second daughter, Laurie Ann. They remained in Alamogordo until the family moved to Clarksville, Tennessee in 1963, to allow for Rose to care for their mother who was ill. She worked at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where her sister Major Robbie Lee Scott was stationed. In 1969, the family moved to Ruidoso, NM when Larry took a job as a radio engineer for KRRR. Rose was secretary to a Colonel at Holloman AFB. Larry had a dream to one day own a business so together in the early 1970s they purchased and operated a restaurant, Norman's In Gateway until Larry's health began to fail. In the 1970's, if anyone wanted a good pizza or hamburger in Ruidoso they were told to go the Normans! During their Ruidoso years Larry and Rose were very active members of Ruidoso Chapter #65 Order of Eastern Star. They served as Worthy Matron and Patron in the Bicentennial year 1976. They enjoyed so many wonderful times with their Eastern Star friends. Rose lost her beloved Larry on May 31, 1991. She worked for the Ruidoso Board of Realtors until she moved to Las Cruces in 2000 to recuperate from an illness. The last year of her life she resided at a most wonderful place, The Aristocrat Assisted Living Facility. She and her oldest sister (her "rock" as she said) resided in the same room until Robbie's passing on April 11, 2014 at age 100! They both made many friends at the Aristocrat in that short time. Rose Norman was preceded in death by her parents Robert Lee and Louisa Catherine Scott; her sister Pauline Scott Lehman and husband Tyrus; her brother Captain Patrick Claiborne Scott; her brother Ray Scott; Her lifelong best friends Janie and Walter Bettes. She is survived by daughter Cathy Daugherty (Jim) of Elida, NM and daughter Laurie Norman of Las Cruces, NM. She is also survived by her most beloved grandsons, Payton Daugherty (Heather) of Houston, Texas, currently in Saudi Arabia and Shay Daugherty of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her beloved niece and nephew Debbie Lehman Collie, Hardin, KY and David Ray Lehman (Kathy) of Hendersonville, TN; Her precious great-granddaughters Lauren and Savannah Daugherty of Houston, Texas also in Saudi Arabia, and Honorary Sister Gwen Burrows of Houston, TX. Several great nieces and nephew of Kentucky and Tennessee also survive her. Most importantly, she is further survived by her friends for eternity Bob Bettes (Beverly) Peoria, AZ and Patsy Bettes of Alamogordo, NM and Robert Bettes (Amy) of El Paso, TX and their children. Countless friends are also left to cherish her memory. Our mother Rose was so cherished and is now the sweetest Rose in God's garden. We love you Mom and thank you! The family would like to thank La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice for their care in her final days, especially Nurse Cindy; and deep gratitude to her most awesome caregivers at The Aristocrat for their love and care the last year of her life. Visitation for Rose will by Tuesday, May 6, 2014 from 4-6 PM at Getz Funeral Home. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Las Cruces, NM and burial is scheduled for 2pm at the Monte Vista Cemetery in Alamogordo, NM. PDF Printable Version