Elizabeth "Betty" Mary (Whalen) Norton passed away peacefully on October 16, 2014 at the age of 84. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to her family and will be missed by all. Betty was born to Thomas J. and Mary E. Whalen in New Brunswick, New Jersey where she grew up alongside her brother, Earl Hardy, sister, Edith Hardy and brother, Thomas Whalen, Jr. She married Robert A. Norton on October 14, 1950. Together they had 6 children; Clifford Norton, Paul Norton (Eleanor), David Norton (Lucretia), J. Richard Norton (Lacie), Robert Norton (Yolanda) and Susan Krueger (Ross). Bob's career brought them across the U.S. making homes in East Lansing, MI, Logan, UT, Davis, CA and finally in 1962, Mount Vernon, WA. They also travelled extensively throughout the U.S and to Australia, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Ireland, France, Belgium, Holland, England and Scotland. Betty was a homemaker and mother extraordinaire. She was an active member of the PTA association, chairing many school carnivals at Washington Elementary School, Boy Scouts den mother for 6 years, and on-going cheerleader for her children's many sporting events, musical concerts and dance recitals. Betty worked outside of the home part-time at the Skagit County Auditor's Office and at Hellen's Needlework. She was an accomplished knitter and needle pointer. Betty's concern for the environment and the farmlands of Skagit County brought her to a 12 year position on the board of the Skagit County Planning Commission. From that she joined the Skagit Conservation District Board of Supervisors in 1981 and became its chair in 1989. She remained in that position until her retirement in 2007. After her son, Clifford's death in 1980, Betty co-founded the Skagit County chapter of the Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents who have lost a child. She spent hundreds of hours supporting other parents through their grief as she gained strength for hers. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sister, son Cliff and son-in-law, Timm Hunt. She is survived by her remaining children, 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Thank you Mom for your many sacrifices, words of advice, family values, hours of service to the community, hugs and smiles. We will forever miss you. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Children's Hospital or Skagit Conservation District. A memorial service will be held on Saturday October 25, 2014, 1:30 p.m. at Bethany Covenant Church, 1318 South 18th St. Mount Vernon. Private burial at Hawthorne Memorial Park.