Norman E Cleveland

Norman E. Cleveland passed away peacefully at home in Sequim, Washington on February 4, 2023 after a life spanning more than 91 years. Born in 1931 in Mount Pleasant, just outside of Port Angeles, Washington, he and his family moved several times before he graduated from Ocosta High School on the coast in Grays Harbor County in 1950.  He then joined his father as a commercial fisherman in Alaska, a time he always spoke of fondly.  But his country had other plans for him, and he was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War and sent to Okinawa. Upon his return home he married Betty M. Kalayzich in Aberdeen and they would remain devoted companions for the next 69 years. Norman and Betty were blessed with two children, Michael and Susan, who were born while they lived in Seattle. Norman subsequently took a job with the Washington State Department of Transportation, where he worked until his retirement in 1989. This job took the family from Amanda Park to McCleary to Port Orchard to Lacey, and finally to Ephrata in eastern Washington. Norman had a natural gift for building and repairing. In the Army he repaired jeeps and afterwards he would buy cars to fix up and sell (we owned more than 60 over the years!). Upon retirement, he and Betty bought an older house in Port Angeles to repair and sell, and they then moved to their final home in Sequim which to this day bears all the marks of Norman’s handiwork, from the landscaping to the various structures built in the yard. Norman loved spending time with his family and he and Betty would take long drives in their retirement to see them. Norman had a treasure trove of homespun jokes and colloquialisms which are still used to lighten the mood at family gatherings.

Norman is survived by his wife, Betty, son Michael Cleveland and daughter-in-law Vicky Cleveland of Houston, Texas, daughter Suzie Berger of Sequim, grandchildren Cristina Cleveland of Brooklyn, New York, Joseph Cleveland and wife Hayley Cleveland of San Bruno, California, and Victor Cleveland of Denver, Colorado as well as niece Linda Balcombe of Hoquiam, Washington and nephew Samm Smith of Aberdeen, Washington. Norman was pre-deceased by his parents, Clarence Cleveland, originally from Michigan and Mabel (Mendenhall) Cleveland, originally from Iowa, and sisters Betty and Ann.

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