Sarah Norton Pierce

Sarah Marguerite Price Norton Pierce was born on January 8, 1915. She passed away on January 27, 2019.

She was preceded in death by two husbands: Carlton Carmont Norton (1975) and Joseph Earl Pierce (2008), her brothers and their spouses Paul (Lucille), Louis (Pet), Jack (Marguerite) and Donald (Louise), her daughter Judith A. Bennett, and step-daughter Jeanie Garcia.

She is survived by daughters Margaret Jane Benham (Benny) and Sarah Mae Helman (Stephen), son-in-law Bert Bennett; step-daughter Mary Alice Crowther; grandchildren: Tom Benham (Elizabeth), Eleanor Gurule (Juan), Scott Helman (Sheila) and Sherri Hawkins (Alex); great grandchildren: Tommy Benham, Jr., Caleb Benham, Evan Proffitt, Josef Schneider, Heather Hawkins and Brian Hawkins. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Sarah Marguerite was born in Grand Junction, CO, the oldest of five children and the only girl. Sarah Marguerite earned an Associate’s degree from Mesa State College. She moved to Paonia, CO to teach school where she met her first husband, Carlton Carmont Norton. They were married on June 6, 1937.

Sarah Marguerite was a member of the Order of Eastern Star La Plata Chapter #83 (Past Worthy Matron), the Daughters of the Nile and Social Order of Beauceant (Past Worthy President).

She worked for Durango Public Library prior to working for Fort Lewis College Library. At Fort Lewis College she was in charge of the Southwest Room and did the research for the Four Corners mosaic map that is in the library’s Southwest Room. She assisted professors and students doing research and established several bibliographies regarding Southwest studies. While working at Fort Lewis College she took classes (one per trimester) to earn her Bachelor’s degree. After retiring from Fort Lewis College she worked part-time for Durango Public Library.

Sarah Marguerite married Joe Pierce in 1986. She enjoyed traveling and especially liked traveling in their motorhome. They were members of the Good Sam Club and traveled throughout the United States and Canada.

Sarah Marguerite was an avid seamstress. She made the clothes for her daughters and grandchildren, as well as others. She took old coats and made them into new coats for her daughters as well as made them formal dresses. She made most Halloween costumes for daughters Judy and Sarah as well as for grandchildren Scott and Sherri. She also made Santa Claus costumes for Benny and Bert. She shared her expertise with her daughters and was known to make alterations for people outside of her family.

Aside from her sewing, Sarah Marguerite enjoyed reading and writing poetry, as well as studying the Bible. Her favorite poet was Helen Steiner Rice. Sarah Marguerite was athletic. She played softball as a catcher and also played basketball. She enjoyed watching her brothers play basketball as well as watching her daughter, Sarah, and grandchildren play sports. Sarah Marguerite also enjoyed fishing with her family and would always pack a delicious lunch for their fishing trips which started early in the mornings.

She enjoyed music and watching her children play music. She also liked flowers. Her favorite color was purple. Sarah Marguerite was always up for adventure. At age 97, her grandson Tom picked her up and put her on his motorcycle. She had on motorcycle helmet and a motorcycle jacket. She enjoyed her motorcycle ride.

Sarah Marguerite’s goal was to live to be 100. On her 100th birthday, she was awarded a proclamation from the Colorado Governor and the Colorado Commission on the Aging for being a Centenarian. As was her usual, though, she outdid herself and lived four more years beyond her goal.

There will be a funeral service at Hood Mortuary Chapel, 1261 E. 3rd Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 10:30am.