1928 – 2016

HAVELOCK, N.C. — Lois Burdin Norris, 88, died peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Cherry Point Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Havelock, N.C.

Lois was born on July 30, 1928, in Strong, to Howard and Mary Burdin. Growing up the youngest of six children, Lois enjoyed telling stories of sibling rivalry, especially those involving her brother Mac. While in high school in Strong, Lois played on the basketball team and traveled to Boston on the train to compete.

Lois married Ray Norris in December 1946 and settled down in Hampton, N.H., as a housewife and mother. When her sons entered high school, Lois began working at the Sugar and Spice Bakery in Hampton and later as a hostess at Jerry’s Restaurant. Lois and her husband worked for several years as a management team at The Lookout in Ogunquit.

It was at The Lookout that Lois and Ray met John and Marie Van Guilder and their young family. “Miss Kelly” and her brothers soon adopted Lois and Ray as their special grandparents — a friendship that would continue for many years.

After retiring to Newmarket, N.H., Lois could often be seen working in her flower garden, walking to the Newmarket Public Library or swimming in her neighbor’s pool. Winters were spent in Zephyrhills, Fla., at Tippecanoe Village. Here, Lois volunteered to help at suppers, loved to go dancing and learned how to do Swedish weaving. Friends and family were delighted to receive her handmade afghans and dishcloths. Children and grandchildren would often request that “Gram” cook special treats, especially whoopee pies, boiled dinners and chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting.

Lois is survived by her three sons, Barry and his wife, Junia, of Union, Randy and his wife, Gerry, of Elizabethtown, Penn., and Greg and his wife, Brenda, of Havelock, N.C.; her sister, Dorothy Reynolds of Farmington; grandchildren, Wayne Norris of Las Vegas, Nev., Christopher Norris and his wife, Tangi, and daughter, Caralyn, of Wylie, Texas, Matt Norris and his wife, Carol, daughter, Karlee and son, Ethan, of Exeter, N.H., Erin True and her husband, Jeff, of Providence, R.I., Kevin Taveirne and his wife, Julie, of New Bern, N.C., and Kristen Georgi and her, husband, Jim, of Walden, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Leona Estes of Norway; and many nieces and nephews. Special friends who will greatly miss her include Walter and Dot Loyas of Goshen, N.Y., Jack and MaryLou McGinley of New Port Ritchie, Fla., and James and Sarah Nelson of Searsmont.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ray; her parents, Howard and Mary Burdin; sisters, Viola McCray and Kathleen Shaw; and brothers, Norman Burdin and Malcolm Burdin.