Norma Mecham Obituary

Norma Mecham

November 17, 1927 ~ July 25, 2012

Norma Marine Larson Mecham, 84, died Wednesday, July 25, 2012 from the effects of brain cancer.

She was born on the American Fork Bench in the home of her Larson grandparents to Neil Steven Larson and Erma Fox. The home was located about where the Lone Peak High School now stands.

She grew up in Lehi during the great depression and learned that you have to work and earn to get what you need. She picked fruit, tended children and many other things to make a little money. She was also very helpful around her home helping her mother and father with the everyday chores. She worked one summer at Deseret Chemical Depot as a guard at the main gate while she was in high school. She was always an ambitious person.

She graduated from the Lehi High School in 1945. She then went to beauty school in Provo riding the interurban to and from school. She worked in a beauty shop in Lehi and American Fork until she met and married Paul LeRoy Mecham on August 11, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple with President Joseph Fielding Smith officiating. After her marriage she worked for Dr. Homer Royle in his dentist office for a while until her first child was born.

They were blessed with 3 boys in their marriage, Robert Paul (Karen), Michael Steven (Caroline) and Craig Lee (Dinah).

After the birth of her kids Norma continued doing her neighbor's and friend's hair in her home and when the boys got a little older she was able to realize a lifelong dream which was to become a nurse. She went to the old trade tech in Provo and received her L.P.N. license getting straight "A's" in every class. She studied very hard for her good grades. She then worked in the American Fork Hospital (where the Heritage Care Center is now located) and when the new hospital was built, she spent the next twenty years there working mostly in the I.C.U. unit, where she made many dear friends. She loved every minute of her work.

Norma and Paul lived in American Fork all their married lives. Norma was always active in the LDS Church and had many teaching and leadership opportunities.

She was very involved for many years in the humanitarian work in the American Fork Stake. She was always a very caring person who liked to help others and never passed up an opportunity to assist someone who needed help. She wasn't one to say 'call me if you need help' but when she saw a need she pitched right in and took care of it.

Norma is survived by her children, one brother (Rex) and three sisters (Lois, Pat, and Glenda) and a sister-in-law (Ruth Ann) who was just like a sister. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother(Von). We would like to give special thanks to Butch McAndless, the Dufeys, Norma's sister Pat and especially Craig and Dinah who did so much to help in every way.

She made Paul promise that she was not to have a funeral so according to her wishes a viewing will be held Sunday, July 29, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. in the Anderson & Sons Mortuary Chapel, 49 East 100 North, American Fork and Monday from 8:45-9:45 a.m. Dedication of the grave in American Fork Cemetery will be at 10:00 a.m. Online memories and condolences may be shared at andersonmortuary.com.

In lieu of flowers, please give a contribution to the LDS Humanitarian Fund or to your favorite charity in her name.