Lydia Alberta Norman Harris, 96, of Kinnear, died on Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Morning Star Manor while being surrounded by her family. A rosary will be recited on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at 7:00 pm at Davis Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at 11:00 am at Rocky Mountain Hall in Fort Washakie, and viewing will be from 9:30 am until 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton.
Lydia Alberta Norman was born on August 16, 1918 in Fort Washakie, WY to George Norman and Ivy McAdams Norman. She was raised in Fort Washakie and attended the schools at Robert’s Mission for orphans and the government schools at Fort Washakie as well as St. Stephens.
She was baptized into the Catholic faith and was a devout member of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Fort Washakie.
She married Robert N. Harris, and they were married for more than 60 years, before his passing in 1995.
She and her husband ranched from 1941 – up to the present located below Diversion Dam. While ranching and raising their children, she also worked for IHS for over nine years. She continued to ranch until her health prevented her to do so.
Her family said that she was a kind hearted, loving person, who had a strong Christian faith, and her family was the most important aspect of her life. She was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt and a confident member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe which both held a special place in her heart. She was an aspiration to whoever knew her and will be sorely missed. She also believed in bettering one’s self through education.
She was her family’s biggest fan and cheerleader, who always supported them in whatever they did. She loved flowers, scarves, jewelry, and the joys of ranching.
She was a 4-H Leader, and a past member of the Morton Grange. She and her husband were Grand Marshall’s in the Lander Pioneers Day Parade and also again individually in 2011, and she was member of the Eastern Shoshone Enrollment Committee for many years.
She is survived by her two sons, Robert N. Harris, Jr. and his wife, Sandy of Morton, and William George Harris Sr and his wife, Margaret, of Tempe, AZ; her daughter, Barbara Mae Vacanti of Omaha, NE; along with her adopted daughter, Caroline Mills of Fort Washakie; and her thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ivy Norman; her husband, Robert N. Harris, Sr.; her son, Vincent James Harris; her daughter and her husband Wilberta and Dean Vogt; her grandson, William George Harris Jr; her sister, Bertha L Norman; her half-sister, Iva McAdams; and her son-in-law, Milo Vacanti.
Lydia’s last wishes were always to want everyone to be respectful to one another who would love and take care of their own families as she did.
On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.TheDavisFuneralHome.com.
Services under the direction of Davis Funeral Home.