In Loving Memory of Noreen F. Sutphen
Noreen Frances Moore Sutphen was born in Cleveland, OH on September 14, 1930 and passed away at her home in Flagstaff on April 4, 2010 following a courageous and nearly lifelong battle with lung disease. Fiercely devoted to her family and home, Noreen and her husband, Dale, raised three children--Sandra (Sutphen) Wood (Flagstaff), Debra Sutphen (Sacramento, CA), and Warren Sutphen (Flagstaff)--during their nearly sixty years in Arizona and fifty years of residence in Flagstaff. Noreen was the youngest of three children born to Clarence S. and Bernice G. Moore. In 1945 the Moore family moved from Cleveland to a small farm in Ortonville, Michigan--near Clarkston--when Clarence Moore assumed an executive position with General Motors Corporation in Flint, MI. Noreen graduated from Clarkston High School in 1948 where she met Dale Sutphen; she then took a position in Pontiac, MI with GMC as a comptometer operator, later working at Whizzer Manufacturing. She moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1952 after marrying Dale, whose family had left Michigan in 1947. In 1960 Dale, Noreen, Sandy and Debbie moved to Flagstaff when Dale was promoted to a management position at Mountain Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co. Youngest son Warren was born in 1967. Noreen was a dedicated homemaker and active member of the Sechrist School PTA, the Junior Woman's Club, the Coconino County Elections Board, and her service sorority. Her greatest passion, joy, and pride in life were her husband, children, grandchildren and friends; she loved planning family get-togethers and celebrations and always had a kind word and a package of homemade brownies or date-nut bread for her friends. She was the caring, loving, and nurturing backbone of our family who, despite her Midwestern roots and the strains on her breathing of living at 7000 feet elevation, loved Flagstaff and vowed never to leave "The Mountain." Noreen is survived by Dale, her devoted husband of 58 years, her daughters Sandy and Deb and son Warren, daughters-in-law Kathleen and Rebecca, beloved Amy and Matthew, three great-grandchildren, and her faithful puppy, Jenny. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Northland Hospice of Flagstaff. A celebration of Noreen's life will be held on Saturday, April 10, 11AM at Hope Community Church in Flagstaff with a gathering of friends to follow at Dale and Noreen's home.
