Shirley E. (Vaughn) Thompson Norton

Mesa, Az – Shirley E. (Vaughn) Thompson Norton, aged 88, joined our lord, on June 27, 2014. Daughter of the late Fred Vaughn and Myrtle (Dunn) Vaughn Patstone. Eldest of 16 children. Married to the late Drescott Thompson and Oscar Norton, previously lived in Rochester, Ma.. Mother of Drescott Thompson Jr., Beverly DeGrazia, Joan Maciel, Carol and husband Gabe Ditata, Corinne and husband Edgar Martin Jr., Shirley Fleet, Joyce and husband Franklin Magan, Joseph and wife Kathy Thompson, Peggy and husband Charles Cordeiro Jr. and June Regan. Pre-deceased by daughter-in-law Rosie Thompson; sons-in-law, Charles DeGrazia and Richard Maciel. Stepmother to Irene and husband Richard Hatch, Oscar Norton Jr. and wife Alyce, Mae and husband George Johnson, Nita and husband Dennis Johnson, survived by 31 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 16 great great grandchildren. Memorial service at First Congregational Church, 11 Constitution Way, Rochester, Ma on September 27, 2014 at 11 A.M.
Shirley was pre-deceased by 4 siblings: Norma and husband Doug Mallon, Donald Vaughn and wife Audrey, Audrey and husband Bud Crosby and Lynne Patstone, Brother in law Norman Waddington and sister in law Millicent Patstone.
11 Surviving siblings: William Patstone and wife Nancy, Patricia and husband John Alley, Nancy and husband Thomas Pierce, Frank and wife Patricia Patstone, Windsor and wife Nancy Patstone, Terence and wife Shirley Patstone, Meredith, and Daniel Patstone, Paul and wife Cherri Patstone, Lynda Patstone, Faith and husband Edmund Bailou, and many nieces ,nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Shirley was a spiritual woman, and was an Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School, a member of the Church Choir, and a Sunday School Teacher. As a Civil Service to her hometown of Rochester, she was commissioned to paint plates of Rochester landmarks: such as “Witch Rock”, “Wheel of Fortune”, and the “First Congregational Church”. She also made Silhouette paintings on plates of many children in town. Being a homemaker she loved to spend time with the children,and grandchildren and made things for them by knitting, crocheting, and sewing.
Shirley had last worked as a Home Health Aide.
In her spare time she loved to do puzzles, draw and paint beautiful artwork, play bingo, do arts and crafts. She continued to be active at Arbor Rose Senior Care, Mesa, AZ.
“Mizpah” which means “May the Lord watch between me and thee, while we are absent, one from another”. Genesis: 31:49.