Norma Belle Melcher, age 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Sunshine Gardens. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday April 29, 2017 at Hood Mortuary Chapel, Earl Caudill will officiate.
Norma was born September 27, 1924 to Gerold Herrick and Faye Adams in Monowi, Nebraska. Once a thriving Great Plains community, Monowi is now an incorporated village and currently has a population of just one person.
She married Douglas Warren Melcher on September 20, 1947 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Doug and Norma met while Doug was being treated for a burn injury and Norma was his nurse at a hospital in Northern Colorado, where Doug was attending CSU. After Doug received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1955, Dr. Melcher, Norma, and 2 small children moved to Durango. Dr. Melcher owned and operated a veterinary clinic in the Animas Valley and Norma was an ER and OB/GYN nurse at Community Hospital.
Norma enjoyed going on pack trips with her family and friends, fishing, skiing, gardening, knitting, reading, bird-watching, and spending time with her grandchildren. And her cats.
Surviving Norma are her children: Jim (Carol) Melcher of Durango, Bill (Pam) Melcher of Durango, Sally (Chalmers) Hall of California, Leslie Melcher of Durango; 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; her sisters Lois Schlindwein of Pennsylvania and Joyce Kraft of Nebraska; her brother Gerold A. Herrick of Washington, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents Gerold and Faye Herrick, her husband Dr. Douglas Melcher, her sister Geroldine Alexander, and granddaughter Katie Melcher.
The family requests no flowers; please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
Cremation has occurred and her ashes will be interred at Greenmount Cemetery beside her husband.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Hood Mortuary - Durango.
5 Entries
My heartfelt condolences to the family at this difficult time. May the many promises of God bring you at measure of comfort. Jeremiah 29:11- RJP
April 30, 2017
To the family of Norma Belle Melcher, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm sure you will miss her dearly. Please find comfort in knowing one day we will see our loved ones again. John 6:40. Matthew 5:5.
Alphonso
April 28, 2017
So sorry for the family's loss. It's times like these when the loving promises of our heavenly Father can bring us comfort and can soften some of the pain we feel in our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 4:13,14) May God grant you guidance, strength and peace during your time of sorrow.
Tiffany
April 27, 2017
So sorry for your loss.
Shauna Walcott
April 27, 2017
Norma was a special lady, a kind and generous friend. We will miss her more than words can say.
April 26, 2017
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