Auburn’s 2005 Pioneer Queen passed away peacefully Tuesday at 101 years old, just 32 days short of her 102nd birthday.

Helen Louise Bradley Norman was born October 30, 1920 in Greeley Colorado. She lived with her parents, Eulela and Albert Bradley, and her siblings, James, Margaret and John, on her Grandparents’ farm. She loved life on the farm playing with her brothers and sister. After her parents divorced she moved to Pacific, WA with her mother and sister around age 12. She attended Auburn schools, graduating from Auburn High School in 1938. Helen and Margaret worked in the gladiola fields around Auburn to earn money for school clothes. She met Frank Norman during her senior year. They dated for 2 years and married in 1940. For a time they owned and operated a local confectionary, The Trojan. They had a son, Dan, in 1943; a second son, John, in 1946; and a daughter, Marsha, in 1952. Frank purchased property on Lea Hill overlooking Auburn. They built a home there in 1944. They were married 50 years before Frank passed in 1991.

Helen was active in her church until 2010 when a severe stroke caused her to slow down. In 2005 she won the title of Pioneer Queen for Auburn’s Good Ole Days celebration. Although she was reluctant to try out at first it ended up being a very memorable experience.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank, sister Margaret, brothers John and James, grandsons Wesley and John Michael and granddaughter Brandy. She has two sons Dan (Lynn), John (Leslie) and daughter Marsha (Collin Heacox). She has 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren, that she loved dearly.

When talking about her life Helen said “It’s been a good life.”

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charity.