Mary Virginia Norton

In loving gratitude of Mary V. Skipper Norton , daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend and teacher. Born in Spring Lake, Florida to John Skipper and Josie Evans Skipper July 15, 1923. Being the daughter of a Methodist minister, she lived in many different towns in Florida and graduated from Lake Butler High School. She received her Bachelor's of Science from Florida Southern where she met her husband (John) Stanley Norton. They were married on June 24, 1945. They moved to State College, Pennsylvania where she worked as a dietitian until Stan graduated from Penn State. From there they went to Louisiana State University and both attained their Master's Degrees. Her first child, John S. Norton, Jr. was born there. They returned to Florida when Stan accepted a position at the University of Florida Department of Agricultural Engineering. Mary taught at Hawthorne High School from 1954-1956. They both worked on the design and construction of their house on 10th Avenue where their second child, Trish, was born. They then moved to Massachusetts where they remained for 27 years. Mary was the Home Economics teacher at Wareham High School from 1966-1982. Stan worked at the Experimental Station for the University of Massachusetts from 1957-1983. Stan and Mary returned to their home in Gainesville in 1984 where Mary resided until her passing, February 3, 2015. Mary was active in the Methodist Church throughout her life. She was still a member of the Earnest Workers at the age of 91. She loved watching college football, particularly rooting for Penn State, LSU and the University of Florida. She also enjoyed Red Sox baseball. She didn't seem to have favorites, not a favorite color, flower, tree, car, or person, she enjoyed them all. There was one favorite though - chocolate. Her chocolate gene has been passed on to both her children and her three grandchildren. Mary loved people and wanted to know their story and share in their lives. She remembered the personal histories of her nieces and nephews (of which there were many on Stan's side), family of friends and casual acquaintances. She would like you because you were nice, not for wealth or education, race or religion. All were equal in her eyes. She moved through life gracefully, peacefully, with a sense of humor, always sweet, caring and thinking of others. She will be greatly missed by Trish, John and his wife, Penelope, by her three grandchildren, Jamie, Matt and Amanda and by her many friends.

Mary Virginia Norton

February 10, 2015