Norma Coats Bawden, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away April 10, 2025. 92 great years of life well lived!

Norma was born September 26, 1932. The first of four children born to James H. Coats and Edith Breeze Coats. She grew up in Granger, Utah, in a loving, happy family. Her father was a farmer and drove a school bus for 43 years for Granite School District. Norma loved riding in the bus with her dad from the time she was a little girl. She enjoyed living on a farm and being close to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They all lived with in a half-mile of each other.

Norma married her soul mate and love of her life, John Lund Bawden on March 16, 1951 in the Salt Lake LDS temple. She worked at Mountain States Telephone Company while John finished his degree in pharmacy at the University of Utah.

Norma and John were blessed with six wonderful children – Jim, Brenda, Brian, Janene, Julie and Barbara. They loved their children so very much and were wonderful, kind and loving parents to them.

Norma loved being a "stay at home" mom while her children were growing up and being involved with them. She wanted to be the very best mother she could be. She loved all her children dearly, and loved being a grandma and a great-grandma and adored all the beautiful, darling babies.

Norma enjoyed cooking, sewing, cleaning and reading. She was a voracious reader and owned many books, often re-reading her favorites from her personal library. She was a gifted baker, becoming famous for her Marshmallow Top and Chocolate Crinkle Cookies! She also was an excellent seamstress and made all her girl's clothes as they were growing up. Crocheting, photography, music and eventually flower gardening were amongst here favorite past times. She kept an immaculate home and always kept herself looking like a million bucks! John lovingly referred to her as his "Queen of Clean"!

The family made many great memories on camping trips and "hit the hills" whenever they could get away. Norma especially loved it when they had a sweet, cozy travel trailer! No more tents! Adventures throughout the Utah mountain ranges and exploring the red rock canyons of Southern Utah were their favorites.

John and Norma moved their family from Granger to Provo in January 1966. John had accepted the position of Chief Pharmacist at Utah Valley Hospital where he worked for several years. It was a really good move for the family, and they all loved living in Provo!

Then, in 1979, John had the opportunity he had dreamed of and they opened their own Pharmacy. Norma was blessed to be working at her husband's side at Edgemont Pharmacy in Provo. With the help of Jim, Julie and Barbara, it became a thriving business. They loved their customers and made many wonderful friends.

Norma appreciated the blessing it was for her to work at the Pharmacy and to learn to do so many new things. They had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people, that soon became regular, loyal customers. They provided a great service and were trusted, valued and helpful members in their community.

Norma loved her Savior and the gospel of her Savior Jesus Christ. She always had a strong testimony. She knew the Lord watched over her and her family, and their prayers were heard. She served many years in the Primary, a counselor and teacher in Relief Society – plus many years as a bishops wife – which is a "behind the scenes calling." One of the great jobs of her life was being an Ordinance Worker in the Provo Temple for many years.

Norma was devastated when her beloved husband died following a tragic accident. He died on April 11, 2006. They had recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on John's 78th birthday in March 2006.

She had to continue on in spite of a broken heart. She loved and helped her family, taking care of things the best she could. Her family was so proud of her, for the courage, and independence she carried on with for nineteen years after John's passing. She continued to serve at the Temple, and the Lord blessed her with peace and the strength to keep going forward. Norma knew she would be with her beloved husband again and be with him forever.

Norma is survived by her children Jim and Cindy Bawden – Brenda and Ed Edwards – Brian Bawden – Janene and Brent Nordin – Julie and David Bailey – Barbara and Preston Miner, 24 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Jeannee Rupp of Tremonton and brother, Robert Coats of Riverton.

She was preceded in death by her mother Edith F. Breeze Coats, father James H Coats, brother Glen Coats, and Grandson Michael John Mendenhall.

A viewing will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., at the Edgemont 1st Ward building, 303 West 3700 North, Provo, Utah 84604. The funeral will follow, starting at 11:00 a.m. at the same location.

Following the funeral services Norma will be buried at Eastlawn Memorial Hills Cemetery, 4800 North 650 East, Provo, Utah.

Condolences may be shared with the family and friends at www.walkersanderson.com

To view the services online for Norma please click this link www.walkersanderson.com