Marley Jo "Joey" Norton, age 87, of Monroe, died February 20 at home with her family by her side.
She was born April 10, 1922 in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of William Marley Bready Jr. and Viola North Bready. She graduated from Hirsch High School in Chicago in 1940. Following 2 years at the University of Chicago, she graduated in 1945 from Marquette University in Milwaukee with her BSRN degree.
Joey's career in nursing included nursing instruction, head nursing and industrial nursing. In 1947, Joey was one of the original nurses hired by The Monroe Clinic, assisting Dr. Jim Weir in OB / Pediatrics.
Joey married John L. Norton Jr, a pre-veterinary student, in June, 1948. After his graduation from Michigan State College in 1953, they returned to Green County to begin his practice, initially in Juda and later in Monroe.
She was an auxiliary founder of the Alpine Curling Club, where she was a dedicated curler for more than 35 years. She was an early and active member of the Monroe Jaycettes. Joey was a long time member of the Monroe Country Club. One of Joey's proudest accomplishments was the co-founding of, and long time participation in, the Monroe Theater Guild. Joey was an avid reader and supporter of the Monroe Public Library and she loved her Green Bay Packers. For nearly 40 years Joey was a member in good standing of the Pot's Lite Poker Club.
Aside from her husband, her kids and her community, Joey's overriding interest was creative writing. She especially enjoyed creating light verse, parodies, skits and various feature newspaper articles. She also authored or co-authored several pageants of historical or fund-raising interest to the Green County area.
To all who knew her, Joey was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. With a wonderful sense of humor and an equally strong sense of right and wrong, Joey was never shy in sharing her opinions. Known as "Mama Jo" to her family, Joey will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
Joey is survived by her seven children, John "Murph" (Jill) of Stevens Point; Kathryn (Ward Paxton) of Madison; Nancy Brown of Potomac, MD; Mary Beth (Joe Mathis) of Madison; Patrick (Susan) of Morris, IL; Jean Kellam (Curt) of Pensacola, FL; and Barbara Brady (Clive) of Arlington, VA, along with 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She is further survived by two sisters, Janie Ekonen of Chapel Hill, NC and Virginia Cosby of Yucaipa, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband John, her sister Vicki Wagner (Bill), and her son-in-law Lyndon Brown.
Memorial Services will be held on Friday, March 5, 2010, at 11:30 a.m., at the Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe. Visitation will be on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Private family burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Monroe.
The family would like to specifically thank the staff and volunteers of Monroe Clinic Hospice, especially Jean Garde, RN and Hillary Hunt, MSSW, for their professionalism and exceptional standard of care. Words can not express our gratitude to all of these outstanding individuals.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joey's name to the Monroe Public Library, Monroe Clinic Hospice or the Monroe Theater Guild. To send a condolence to the family go to www.newcomefuneralhome.net.
She was born April 10, 1922 in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of William Marley Bready Jr. and Viola North Bready. She graduated from Hirsch High School in Chicago in 1940. Following 2 years at the University of Chicago, she graduated in 1945 from Marquette University in Milwaukee with her BSRN degree.
Joey's career in nursing included nursing instruction, head nursing and industrial nursing. In 1947, Joey was one of the original nurses hired by The Monroe Clinic, assisting Dr. Jim Weir in OB / Pediatrics.
Joey married John L. Norton Jr, a pre-veterinary student, in June, 1948. After his graduation from Michigan State College in 1953, they returned to Green County to begin his practice, initially in Juda and later in Monroe.
She was an auxiliary founder of the Alpine Curling Club, where she was a dedicated curler for more than 35 years. She was an early and active member of the Monroe Jaycettes. Joey was a long time member of the Monroe Country Club. One of Joey's proudest accomplishments was the co-founding of, and long time participation in, the Monroe Theater Guild. Joey was an avid reader and supporter of the Monroe Public Library and she loved her Green Bay Packers. For nearly 40 years Joey was a member in good standing of the Pot's Lite Poker Club.
Aside from her husband, her kids and her community, Joey's overriding interest was creative writing. She especially enjoyed creating light verse, parodies, skits and various feature newspaper articles. She also authored or co-authored several pageants of historical or fund-raising interest to the Green County area.
To all who knew her, Joey was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. With a wonderful sense of humor and an equally strong sense of right and wrong, Joey was never shy in sharing her opinions. Known as "Mama Jo" to her family, Joey will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
Joey is survived by her seven children, John "Murph" (Jill) of Stevens Point; Kathryn (Ward Paxton) of Madison; Nancy Brown of Potomac, MD; Mary Beth (Joe Mathis) of Madison; Patrick (Susan) of Morris, IL; Jean Kellam (Curt) of Pensacola, FL; and Barbara Brady (Clive) of Arlington, VA, along with 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She is further survived by two sisters, Janie Ekonen of Chapel Hill, NC and Virginia Cosby of Yucaipa, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband John, her sister Vicki Wagner (Bill), and her son-in-law Lyndon Brown.
Memorial Services will be held on Friday, March 5, 2010, at 11:30 a.m., at the Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe. Visitation will be on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Private family burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Monroe.
The family would like to specifically thank the staff and volunteers of Monroe Clinic Hospice, especially Jean Garde, RN and Hillary Hunt, MSSW, for their professionalism and exceptional standard of care. Words can not express our gratitude to all of these outstanding individuals.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joey's name to the Monroe Public Library, Monroe Clinic Hospice or the Monroe Theater Guild. To send a condolence to the family go to www.newcomefuneralhome.net.