December
23,
1925
23,
1925
June
06,
2016
06,
2016
Phyllis Ann Babcock Norton, known to all as Ann, peacefully returned to Our Heavenly Father on June 6, 2016. She had lived the past few years in loving nursing care at Willow Crest Pavilion, Sandwich, IL.
Ann was born to Marguerite (Horne) and Phillip Babcock in Laurel MS. She grew up there as well as in Hattiesburg and Jackson MS. When Ann was age 16, she and her younger brother and sister were orphaned and were subsequently reared by cousins.
In June 1944 Ann graduated from John S. Gardiner High School in Laurel, where she loved all her classes and excelled in art and dance, traits she later passed on to her daughters. Ann was training to be a retail buyer in women’s wear for one of the region’s larger department stores when she was introduced to her future husband, George W. “Bill” Norton, by his sister, Cathryne (Norton) Frame. Cathryne had moved from Earlville IL to MS to work at the department store in Laurel while her husband, Earle E. Frame, and her brother Bill were both stationed at nearby Camp Shelby.
On July 11, 1944, Ann and Bill were married at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Laurel. After the wedding, Bill and Cathryne took Ann to Earlville to meet their parents, Julia (Leonard) and George E. Norton, and the Norton brothers and sisters. Then, the couple and Cathryne returned South. Ann and Cathryne lived together in Laurel while their husbands were overseas serving in WWII. In May 1945 Ann and Bill’s first daughter, Teresa Ann, was born during a record heat wave.
That summer, Ann, Teresa, and Cathryne, along with Ann’s brother, George P. “Bill” Babcock, took a troop train North to live with the Norton family until Bill and Earle returned from the War. The Nortons warmly welcomed Bill Babcock into their home right along with Ann, and the two orphans thus acquired a huge family.
Finally, in January, 1946, Ann and Bill began their life together in Earlville. In November 1951 a second daughter, Rita Kaye, arrived during a severe blizzard.
Ann was a member of St. Theresa parish. She took part in fund-raising musicals for the community. She maintained a gracious home and was very proud of both her husband’s and her brother’s business success and their service to the community. She took joy in helping her daughters through school. She was the mother who always stayed up late to help with homework, sewed the dance costumes, and was available for a chat.
Ann is pre-deceased by her husband and her brother. She is survived by her daughters, Teresa (Thomas H. Paine), San Diego CA, and Rita, Kankakee IL; her sister, Kaye (Mrs. Ralph) Mims, Mobile AL; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Ann’s family sincerely thanks the many people who made her final years happy, safe and comfortable: Luise Warren, a deeply caring guardian; Cher Farley and the devoted staffs of Willow Crest Pavilion and Unity Hospice; Charles Frame, a cousin with a huge heart; Fr. Bowan “Bo” Schmitt, Peg Gulick, and Jerry Meyer from St. Theresa’s parish, who treated me like I still lived in Earlville when I called them.
Ann’s Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at St. Theresa’s in Earlville and followed by burial in St. Theresa’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Arrangements are by Hnaley-Turner-Eighner of Earlville. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Ann may be made to Cure Arthritis at www.curearthritis.org . For more information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
407 S. Ottawa St.
Earlville, IL 60518
815-246-6491
Ann was born to Marguerite (Horne) and Phillip Babcock in Laurel MS. She grew up there as well as in Hattiesburg and Jackson MS. When Ann was age 16, she and her younger brother and sister were orphaned and were subsequently reared by cousins.
In June 1944 Ann graduated from John S. Gardiner High School in Laurel, where she loved all her classes and excelled in art and dance, traits she later passed on to her daughters. Ann was training to be a retail buyer in women’s wear for one of the region’s larger department stores when she was introduced to her future husband, George W. “Bill” Norton, by his sister, Cathryne (Norton) Frame. Cathryne had moved from Earlville IL to MS to work at the department store in Laurel while her husband, Earle E. Frame, and her brother Bill were both stationed at nearby Camp Shelby.
On July 11, 1944, Ann and Bill were married at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Laurel. After the wedding, Bill and Cathryne took Ann to Earlville to meet their parents, Julia (Leonard) and George E. Norton, and the Norton brothers and sisters. Then, the couple and Cathryne returned South. Ann and Cathryne lived together in Laurel while their husbands were overseas serving in WWII. In May 1945 Ann and Bill’s first daughter, Teresa Ann, was born during a record heat wave.
That summer, Ann, Teresa, and Cathryne, along with Ann’s brother, George P. “Bill” Babcock, took a troop train North to live with the Norton family until Bill and Earle returned from the War. The Nortons warmly welcomed Bill Babcock into their home right along with Ann, and the two orphans thus acquired a huge family.
Finally, in January, 1946, Ann and Bill began their life together in Earlville. In November 1951 a second daughter, Rita Kaye, arrived during a severe blizzard.
Ann was a member of St. Theresa parish. She took part in fund-raising musicals for the community. She maintained a gracious home and was very proud of both her husband’s and her brother’s business success and their service to the community. She took joy in helping her daughters through school. She was the mother who always stayed up late to help with homework, sewed the dance costumes, and was available for a chat.
Ann is pre-deceased by her husband and her brother. She is survived by her daughters, Teresa (Thomas H. Paine), San Diego CA, and Rita, Kankakee IL; her sister, Kaye (Mrs. Ralph) Mims, Mobile AL; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Ann’s family sincerely thanks the many people who made her final years happy, safe and comfortable: Luise Warren, a deeply caring guardian; Cher Farley and the devoted staffs of Willow Crest Pavilion and Unity Hospice; Charles Frame, a cousin with a huge heart; Fr. Bowan “Bo” Schmitt, Peg Gulick, and Jerry Meyer from St. Theresa’s parish, who treated me like I still lived in Earlville when I called them.
Ann’s Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at St. Theresa’s in Earlville and followed by burial in St. Theresa’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Arrangements are by Hnaley-Turner-Eighner of Earlville. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Ann may be made to Cure Arthritis at www.curearthritis.org . For more information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
407 S. Ottawa St.
Earlville, IL 60518
815-246-6491
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