Obituary of Lois Norrington

Lois Norrington of Santa Barbara passed away peacefully on October 31, 2023, at the age of 102.

Lois Margret Tallman was born in Cloverdale, California in 1920. She lived on her family’s farm through high school, picking hops for 5 cents a bushel, riding horses through the apple orchards and hills of Sonoma County and dancing to Big Band music on the Russian River. Upon her 1938 graduation from Analy High School in Sebastopol, she moved to Ventura and became a hairdresser. While living in a boarding house in Ventura, she met her first husband John (Kelly) Shaw. After the birth of their 3 girls, they moved to Santa Barbara where they welcomed their son. They divorced in 1963. Lois met her second husband, Bob Norrington, while she was working for the state unemployment office, and they married in 1967. They lived in several other cities in California before returning to Santa Barbara County for good in 1989.

Lois and Bob led a life of exciting travel by visiting her daughter and family in Germany multiple times, traveling extensively through Europe and touring the U.S. and ultimately visiting every single continent. In her later years after Bob passed, she continued her love of travel with cruises. Lois spent her retirement years sewing, knitting, painting, line dancing, playing golf and working crosswords.

She is survived by her two daughters, Danni Borut (Peter Nissler) and Tina Coffman (Chris), both of Santa Barbara; son J.J. Shaw (Marti), of Herndon, VA; and 2 stepchildren (Dale and Dawn) as well as 9 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Terry Meek.

Her family is thankful for the generous care she received in the Heritage House and the Country Gardens home in Santa Barbara. Lois was a graceful and beautiful woman and remained so until her death. We especially want to thank Cecilia and Beth at the Country Gardens and also the Assisted Home Hospice Team. A private family service was held in November.