Fay Lois Norton

Fay Lois Dawson was born on November 22nd, 1932, to Gertrude/Gertie (Lutzenhiser) and Raymond Walter Dawson in Ellensburg, Washington. She lived her long life the way she did everything else—full of grit, humor, faith, and a whole lot of sass right up to the end. Fay passed away peacefully on April 14th, 2026, in Tooele, Utah. She was 93.

As a young girl, Fay spent a lot of time with her dad, helping him in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. It was there that she learned how to fish, hunt, and appreciate the quiet parts of nature most people rush past. She also grew up with her two sisters, Viola and Glenda, and brother, Gary, and like most kids back then, life was all about being outside, playing simple games, and coming home when the day was done. That love of the outdoors never left her.

In 1950, Fay graduated from Klahiam High School. After her graduation, she and her sister, Viola, found an apartment in Seattle and moved in together. While Viola attended the University of Washington, Fay found a job and helped to keep the two afloat. Fay once said, “We didn’t have much money, but we had fun. We were two crazy girls who didn’t really know what we were doing, but we made it work.”

In 1954, Fay married Urban Stanton Abel, and together they built a busy, full life centered on family. They raised three kids—Laura, Wade, and Boyd—and life was full of camping trips, hunting, ballgames, and all the chaos and joy that comes with a growing family. Fay and Urban were always there on the sidelines, cheering, supporting, and keeping things going at home. When Urban passed away unexpectedly in 1981, it was a hard loss, but Fay kept moving forward the way she always had—steady, strong, and focused on her family. As grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, Fay was at as many of their sporting events, school programs, as well as high school and college graduations, as possible.

Through these years, Fay worked at the United States General Services Administration as their Montana Regional Telecommunications Chief Operator. Her coworkers became lifelong friends. She retired from her position in 1992, but Fay was never one to sit still for long. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, along with unforgettable trips to Europe and Aruba. Fay loved to bowl and was on a Missoula bowling team for several years, aptly named, “The Mixed Nuts.” The team consisted of good friends, Phyllis Rouland, Cheryl Neilson, and Gee Neilson, along with Fay’s daughter, Laura. She was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and often volunteered for community service activities. She was also a master knitter and crocheter, and, over the years, she made hundreds of beautiful, handmade items. Her Christmas socks were legendary and became a family tradition — each one made for a specific person, always thoughtful, always a little different — and she didn’t stop with family. Fay knitted over a thousand socks and donated them to the Poverello Center in Missoula, quietly helping people she would never meet,

In 1995, Fay met Dan Norton, and they were married a year later. They shared a love of camping and spent years traveling through the Great Northwest with the Good Sam Club. It was a good partnership— spent exploring in their RV and doing what they both enjoyed. After Dan passed in 2007, Fay continued on with the same independent spirit she’d always had.

Fay had one of those laughs you don’t forget. It was real, easy, and the kind that made other people relax without even realizing it. She could take an ordinary day and make it feel like something worth remembering, especially if there was a card game going on (cutthroat games of Cribbage were a family staple), a kitchen full of food, and people she loved around the table. Nobody stayed a stranger for long around Fay.

Fay’s life wasn’t about anything fancy. It was about family, people, hard work, laughter, and showing up for the ones she loved. She was a humble and giving person, who had a way of making life feel warmer just by being in it. She taught those around her that the best things in life were simple, a philosophy that she asked her children to honor in her final wishes.

She will be deeply missed and loved always.

Fay was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Viola Geymer, her brother, Gary Dawson, and her nephew, Sean Dawson.

She is survived by her sister, Glenda Hicks, her children, Laura Coontz (Kevin), Wade Abel (Kathy), and Boyd Abel (Laurie); grandchildren Tracy Burnaby (Dustin), Lee Rouland, Tyler Abel (Kamay), Kacee Abel, Taylor Abel (Hope), and Grace Abel (Hunter); and great-grandchildren Gabriel Burnaby, Kamryn Burnaby, Jackson Giblin, Kallie Giblin, Maeve Abel, Tegan Abel, and Reese Abel.

Services for Fay will be held on Saturday, July 18th, 2026, at 11:00 am, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 7405 Mullan Road in Missoula.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Missoula Poverello Center.

Local arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.