Norma Krager

She was the most beautiful mom. She loved us unconditionally and unselfishly. She never took but always gave. She gave us encouragement, a shoulder to lean on, no judgement or harsh words. She was strong and stood for the rights of others. She was selfless and always looking out for others. She was kind, calm, and considerate. She never had much but always gave whatever she had and more if we needed it. She had a funny sense of humor that pretty much only we could understand. She went to the mat for us to have pets: a guinea pig, chihuahua, cat, snakes, lizards – though that caused unintentional consequences, it seems it was hard to keep babysitters! She loved flowers, books, playing Uno, listening to her music, and having her nails done. She understood the fine line between love and discipline as she navigated our raising. She was an amazing dancer. With every difficulty life threw in her path, she showed us how to navigate negativity with kindness and grace. She had no enemies. She was our beacon. Her intuition kept us out of so many potential problems, her gut feelings were always right on and if we listened to them, we were the better for it. She deserved all the applause but never wanted it. She was the mom who waited on the couch until we got home at night to make sure we were safe. She gave us a dime to call her no questions asked if we were in trouble and needed to get out of a bad situation. Worrying was a form of love from her. She did it all: cooked, cleaned, gave advice, taught us about life, including how to drive. She comforted and protected us in any situation, even from each other. Her advice was always spot on. Mom was the rope that surrounded and tied our families together, she could loosen up the hold to inspire adventure and to experience life, or pull it close to gather us all in.

Norma came into this world on July 28, 1934, to Sadie and Donald Lacy. On April 12th, she spread her wings, surrounded by her family, and was welcomed into the loving arms of her mother Sadie and granddaughter Lacy. She was born in Marbles Falls, Texas and later moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico. After high school graduation, she married Fred Horina. Together they welcomed their baby boy Mike. Later divorced, Norma moved to Fort Collins, Colorado and married Max Patterson. They had three children, Wendy, Stacy, and Scott. She worked at CSU in the registrar's office, and later moved to Colorado Springs and worked at Farmers Insurance Group until retirement. After her divorce from Max, she never expected to find love again, until she married Mike Krager. After Mike's passing she moved to Fort Collins and then to Apple Leaf Assisted Living Facility in Berthoud, where she was treated like family and loved by the staff and residents. She was preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter Lacy Miller, and Mike Krager.

She is survived by her loving sister, Camilla Baker, whom she adored, children Mike Patterson (Lynda), Wendy Cohen (Mark), Stacy Evans (Jon), Scott Patterson (Kim), five grandchildren, Michael and Aaron Patterson, Spencer, and Chloe Evans, Kenyan Kreisher, and niece Susan Kalergis, and 11 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to either Pathways Hospice of Fort Collins, CO or Apple Leaf Assisted living facility in Berthoud, CO.

Graveside services will be held at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, CO on her birthday, July 28, 2023, at 11 AM. All are welcome to attend her celebration of life.

Sweet dreams, sleep tight, and don't let those bed bugs bite, Mom!