Judith A. (Lapham) Norton of 90 Oyster Pond Road, Edgartown, died on March 25, 2018. She is alive and well, celebrating in her forever heavenly home with her Savior, Jesus Christ. Her lifelong prayer was that you will join her someday.
Judy was born April 9, 1937, to Mildred and Arnold Lapham of Carlisle, where she came home to an older sister, best friend and lifelong confidant, Marcia J. Hagman of Lyndon, Vt., better known as CAM (Crazy Aunt Marcia) to her nieces and nephews, and was joined soon after by her brother Taylor A. Lapham, of Quemado, N.M. Judy had a love for babies from an early age, and Taylor became the perfect opportunity to hone her mothering skills. Judy attended Concord Carlisle Regional High School, where she excelled in school and its many activities, and was vice president of her freshman class as well as being named queen of her senior prom. One of her favorite activities was playing the drums in the school band. After graduation Judy continued to live in Carlisle, and began her administrative career as a secretary for MIT Lincoln Lab, where she worked on many interesting projects. If you were to ask her which one she remembered the most, it was meeting and working for Wernher Von Braun on the ballistic missile project. Judy’s last job was in retail for the Fresh Produce store in downtown Edgartown, where she enjoyed interacting with everyone who came in. Even if you didn’t leave with a bag, she made sure that you left with the knowledge that “Jesus loves you.”
Judy met the love of her life, Allen Norton, while vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard with her sister Marcia in 1956. They were married two years later, and spent 60 years together, first at their home on Mullen Way, and then out at the Oyster Pond, where they raised their three children and welcomed their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Judy loved being a mother, and could always be found engaging with her children in their many activities; one of her favorites was being a “barn mother” at both Scrubby Neck and Bittersweet farms. Judy’s natural and abiding love for children had her overjoyed to become a “Nunnie” to Cameron Boone, Morgan Boone, Justin Boone, Taylor A. Eppers, Chase N. Eppers, Peter N. Vincent, Eve L. Vincent Codding, Katherine H. Vincent, Stephanie M. Priore, and Sarah V. Vincent. She also loved on her four great-grandchildren, and was excited about adding to more to her circle of love in May.
Judy was first and foremost a lover of Jesus Messiah, and would not hesitate to tell anyone she met, whether you asked or not, that He was where her daily strength came from, especially in the last years of her life. Judy had many caregiving angels, from her nieces Debbie Scott, Lisa White, Shauna Smith, and Toni Hanover, as well as her late-in-life almost-daughters Lisa Ann Reich and Chrissy McCarthy, to her beloved Meg Verette from Hospice, her Beacon of Hope church family members, and numerous doctors and nurses at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Judy faced her challenges with strength, dignity, and a smile on her face, believing that each doctor’s visit or hospitalization was an opportunity to share her love for Jesus.
Judy‘s faith brought her much joy and hope. She did not hesitate to lift her eyes up to the mountains, where she knew her help would come from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Judy was a worship leader at Faith Community Church for many years, and spent the last few years of her life using her beautiful alto voice to praise God and to inspire many of her “forever family” members at Beacon of Hope Church in Edgartown with her strength and resilience.
She was the loving and devoted wife of Allen W. Norton for 60 years, and mother to her children from her heart Melissa Norton Vincent, wife of Edward W. Vincent Jr. of Edgartown, the late Mark B. Norton of East Falmouth, and Rachel Norton Boone, wife of Darris Boone of Gretna, Neb.
The Norton family welcomes friends and loved ones to celebrate her life in a memorial service to be held at 1 pm on Saturday, April 7, at Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs, preceded by visiting hours with the family at 12 pm. Burial will follow in the New Westside Cemetery, Edgartown. Donations in her name may be made to Beacon of Hope Church, P.O. Box 2582, Edgartown MA, 02539.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ.” –Rom. 5:1
