Bonner County Bee
Posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 10:00 am
Norma Gayle Abell went home peacefully to be with her Lord on July 13, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. Norma was born on Nov. 21, 1948, to LeRoy and Esther Wright in Stockton, Calif. She grew up in the San Jose/Santa Cruz area of California. She later moved to Washington state. Norma’s dream was to work with children. She taught preschool and graduated from Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash.
In 1983, she married Phillip Abell and they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, to start their life together, created a blended family of five children. To fulfill her dream, she started attending college in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, earning an education degree from the University of Idaho. Norma completed her student teaching in the Bonner County School District before beginning her teaching career at Hope Elementary School. She taught third and sixth grades, and was a very gifted teacher and writer. She created the STARS program in Hope where senior citizens volunteered their time to help young student learn to read. Norma taught with her heart, “If you let a child know you care, they will do absolutely anything for you.”
Norma was the teacher of the month and in 1998/1999 teacher of the year. She also started the Hope Elementary school’s character program called, “Eight Keys to a Better Me.” “In my own classroom I have felt that there is a need to learn the basic values and character traits.”
Norma left teaching in Bonner County in order to take care of her mother and disabled brother on the Washington coast. There she was a substitute teacher and taught classes at the Naselle youth camp. Norma is a member of the Pacific Bible Church in Ilwaco, Wash., and served in leadership until her illness.
This spring, she moved back to Sandpoint to be close to family members. She lived her life with a smile always on her face. She often said, “The joy of the Lord was her strength.” She made everything she did fun, “always move forward and don’t look back.” She loved to read, write, snow ski, camping, fishing, water skiing, boating, gardening, travel, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved people and loved helping others whenever possible.
Norma is survived by her husband, Phillip Abell; her daughter, Amberin Spring of Sandpoint; her sons, Kevin Harvey of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Aaron Harvey of Ontario, Calif.; her mother, Esther Corasaw of Sandpoint; her brothers, Marion Wright of Palm Springs, and Roland Wright of Calif.; her sister, Vange Lowe of Longview; extended family, Janelle Cox of Columbus, Ind., and Don Abell of Centralia, Wash.; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and her brother, Gary Wright.
Funeral services will be conducted 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel in Sandpoint, Idaho. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to sign Norma’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.
Posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 10:00 am
Norma Gayle Abell went home peacefully to be with her Lord on July 13, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. Norma was born on Nov. 21, 1948, to LeRoy and Esther Wright in Stockton, Calif. She grew up in the San Jose/Santa Cruz area of California. She later moved to Washington state. Norma’s dream was to work with children. She taught preschool and graduated from Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash.
In 1983, she married Phillip Abell and they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, to start their life together, created a blended family of five children. To fulfill her dream, she started attending college in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, earning an education degree from the University of Idaho. Norma completed her student teaching in the Bonner County School District before beginning her teaching career at Hope Elementary School. She taught third and sixth grades, and was a very gifted teacher and writer. She created the STARS program in Hope where senior citizens volunteered their time to help young student learn to read. Norma taught with her heart, “If you let a child know you care, they will do absolutely anything for you.”
Norma was the teacher of the month and in 1998/1999 teacher of the year. She also started the Hope Elementary school’s character program called, “Eight Keys to a Better Me.” “In my own classroom I have felt that there is a need to learn the basic values and character traits.”
Norma left teaching in Bonner County in order to take care of her mother and disabled brother on the Washington coast. There she was a substitute teacher and taught classes at the Naselle youth camp. Norma is a member of the Pacific Bible Church in Ilwaco, Wash., and served in leadership until her illness.
This spring, she moved back to Sandpoint to be close to family members. She lived her life with a smile always on her face. She often said, “The joy of the Lord was her strength.” She made everything she did fun, “always move forward and don’t look back.” She loved to read, write, snow ski, camping, fishing, water skiing, boating, gardening, travel, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved people and loved helping others whenever possible.
Norma is survived by her husband, Phillip Abell; her daughter, Amberin Spring of Sandpoint; her sons, Kevin Harvey of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Aaron Harvey of Ontario, Calif.; her mother, Esther Corasaw of Sandpoint; her brothers, Marion Wright of Palm Springs, and Roland Wright of Calif.; her sister, Vange Lowe of Longview; extended family, Janelle Cox of Columbus, Ind., and Don Abell of Centralia, Wash.; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and her brother, Gary Wright.
Funeral services will be conducted 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel in Sandpoint, Idaho. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to sign Norma’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.
Bonner County Bee
Posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 10:00 am
Norma Gayle Abell went home peacefully to be with her Lord on July 13, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. Norma was born on Nov. 21, 1948, to LeRoy and Esther Wright in Stockton, Calif. She grew up in the San Jose/Santa Cruz area of California. She later moved to Washington state. Norma’s dream was to work with children. She taught preschool and graduated from Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash.
In 1983, she married Phillip Abell and they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, to start their life together, created a blended family of five children. To fulfill her dream, she started attending college in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, earning an education degree from the University of Idaho. Norma completed her student teaching in the Bonner County School District before beginning her teaching career at Hope Elementary School. She taught third and sixth grades, and was a very gifted teacher and writer. She created the STARS program in Hope where senior citizens volunteered their time to help young student learn to read. Norma taught with her heart, “If you let a child know you care, they will do absolutely anything for you.”
Norma was the teacher of the month and in 1998/1999 teacher of the year. She also started the Hope Elementary school’s character program called, “Eight Keys to a Better Me.” “In my own classroom I have felt that there is a need to learn the basic values and character traits.”
Norma left teaching in Bonner County in order to take care of her mother and disabled brother on the Washington coast. There she was a substitute teacher and taught classes at the Naselle youth camp. Norma is a member of the Pacific Bible Church in Ilwaco, Wash., and served in leadership until her illness.
This spring, she moved back to Sandpoint to be close to family members. She lived her life with a smile always on her face. She often said, “The joy of the Lord was her strength.” She made everything she did fun, “always move forward and don’t look back.” She loved to read, write, snow ski, camping, fishing, water skiing, boating, gardening, travel, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved people and loved helping others whenever possible.
Norma is survived by her husband, Phillip Abell; her daughter, Amberin Spring of Sandpoint; her sons, Kevin Harvey of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Aaron Harvey of Ontario, Calif.; her mother, Esther Corasaw of Sandpoint; her brothers, Marion Wright of Palm Springs, and Roland Wright of Calif.; her sister, Vange Lowe of Longview; extended family, Janelle Cox of Columbus, Ind., and Don Abell of Centralia, Wash.; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and her brother, Gary Wright.
Funeral services will be conducted 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel in Sandpoint, Idaho. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to sign Norma’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.
Posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 10:00 am
Norma Gayle Abell went home peacefully to be with her Lord on July 13, 2015, surrounded by her loving family. Norma was born on Nov. 21, 1948, to LeRoy and Esther Wright in Stockton, Calif. She grew up in the San Jose/Santa Cruz area of California. She later moved to Washington state. Norma’s dream was to work with children. She taught preschool and graduated from Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash.
In 1983, she married Phillip Abell and they moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, to start their life together, created a blended family of five children. To fulfill her dream, she started attending college in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, earning an education degree from the University of Idaho. Norma completed her student teaching in the Bonner County School District before beginning her teaching career at Hope Elementary School. She taught third and sixth grades, and was a very gifted teacher and writer. She created the STARS program in Hope where senior citizens volunteered their time to help young student learn to read. Norma taught with her heart, “If you let a child know you care, they will do absolutely anything for you.”
Norma was the teacher of the month and in 1998/1999 teacher of the year. She also started the Hope Elementary school’s character program called, “Eight Keys to a Better Me.” “In my own classroom I have felt that there is a need to learn the basic values and character traits.”
Norma left teaching in Bonner County in order to take care of her mother and disabled brother on the Washington coast. There she was a substitute teacher and taught classes at the Naselle youth camp. Norma is a member of the Pacific Bible Church in Ilwaco, Wash., and served in leadership until her illness.
This spring, she moved back to Sandpoint to be close to family members. She lived her life with a smile always on her face. She often said, “The joy of the Lord was her strength.” She made everything she did fun, “always move forward and don’t look back.” She loved to read, write, snow ski, camping, fishing, water skiing, boating, gardening, travel, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved people and loved helping others whenever possible.
Norma is survived by her husband, Phillip Abell; her daughter, Amberin Spring of Sandpoint; her sons, Kevin Harvey of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Aaron Harvey of Ontario, Calif.; her mother, Esther Corasaw of Sandpoint; her brothers, Marion Wright of Palm Springs, and Roland Wright of Calif.; her sister, Vange Lowe of Longview; extended family, Janelle Cox of Columbus, Ind., and Don Abell of Centralia, Wash.; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and her brother, Gary Wright.
Funeral services will be conducted 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel in Sandpoint, Idaho. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to sign Norma’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.
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