Cleta Lou (Iverson) NORCROSS

IVERSON, NORCROSS, CONROY, LEHMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

June 24, 1942 -- July 7, 2017

Suffolk, Virginia - Born June 24, 1942 in the Webster City, Iowa hospital, Cleta Lou Iverson came home to the family farm in Central Iowa three miles from Ellsworth. Named after two of her mother's friends, she was the first-born child to Vera and Lester Iverson. Cleta grew up with her two younger brothers, Ross and Boyd, and many relatives on all the surrounding farms. During her childhood she went to Trinity Lutheran Church where she was a leader in Lutheran League and a sometime preacher and speaker. In high school she played clarinet in the band, sang in the chorus, and played softball and basketball, the two sports offered to girls.

While in college at Iowa State University, Cleta continued her busy involvement in all parts of the campus. She served on the elected Student Union Board, served as Vice President of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and majored in art.

After college she and her friend, Glen Miller, moved to Connecticut to teach school in New Haven. Cleta taught art at the Conte School for three years. Shortly after moving to New Haven, Cleta met John Norcross who she married six months later on July 31, 1965.

Born at Yale-New Haven Hospital, James Franklin Norcross III (Jimmy) arrived on March 18, 1968. Within three weeks John, Cleta and their new little baby moved to Galveston, where they began 12 years of appreciating Texas and life on the Gulf Coast. While in Galveston, Cleta was very involved in many parts of the community including the League of Women Voters, the Junior League, and the YMCA Board. Sarah Elizabeth Norcross was born during Hurricane Fern on September 15, 1971 in John Sealy Hospital.

In July of 1980, the Norcross family moved to Suffolk, Virginia. In 1984, Cleta was hired by Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (NSA) to teach high school art. She remained in that beloved position for 27 years. During her NSA career, Cleta received her Master's Degree in Education from Old Dominion University, was named NSA's Teacher of the Year in 2003, and was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma honorary teaching society.

For many years, Cleta served on the Fine Arts Commission for the City of Suffolk, was a member of the Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society, Suffolk Book Club, Suffolk Sister Cities, Suffolk Art League, Nansemond River Garden Club, Social Club, Cedar Point Country Club, Croquet Club, and Glebe Episcopal Church. At Glebe, she served on the building committee and the vestry. Most recently she completed a rigorous nine-month docent-training program at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk.

Cleta was a lover of life, learning, travel and beauty. She was an artist, gourmet cook, gardener and entertainer. She loved spending time with family and friends, most especially at her homes on Bennett's Creek and in Wintergreen.

In addition to her husband John, her brother Ross, and her children Jimmy and Sarah, Cleta will be remembered through her daughter-in-law Jill Conroy, grandsons Jack and Max, son-in-law Michael Lehman and her many wonderful friends, extended family, colleagues and former students.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 12 at 4:00 p.m. at Glebe Episcopal Church, 4400 Nansemond Pkwy in Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Glebe Church. Sturtevant Funeral Home.

The Virginian Pilot
July 9, 2017