Norma Reichel
December 13, 1934 - January 11, 2025
Norma Reichel, resident of Eatonville for over 60 years, passed away on January 11, 2025 in Chehalis after a brief battle with cancer. Her children were not far from her side during her illness. Norma was born on December 13, 1934 in Yakima, to Elmer and Helen Walters. She grew up in Tacoma, Washington and graduated from Clover Park High School in 1954. She then married her husband Duane (Sam) Reichel on March 25,1955 after his discharge from the Army. After living for a short time near Lacamas, Norma and Sam moved to Eatonville in 1957 where she made many lifelong friends. All five of her children were graduates of Eatonville High School and she took pride in raising them and living in Eatonville most of her adult life. She was a longtime member of the Dogwood Garden Club and Eatonville PTA, and school volunteer.
Norma’s greatest joy came from watching her four sons play baseball each summer while her husband Sam coached the Eatonville Eagles and the Babe Ruth league in town. She kept score and sat through countless innings of baseball as Eatonville principally played teams from Lewis County such Morton, Randle, and Mossyrock. Sam and her would load up their station wagon full of ball players and head off to away games all over the local area. She took great pride in supporting her children and no matter what they were doing, she would be there encouraging them.
Another fond memory of the Reichel family were the amazing camping trips they took each summer touring much of the northwest where Norma organized much of each one. Every summer the Reichels loaded their station wagon with all seven family members and their camping gear destined for either Thomas and Curlew Lake in NE Washington, somewhere on the coast, the Olympic Peninsula, Banff, or Yellowstone. This love of the outdoors was a gift to all her children. Later in life, she and Sam would travel all over the western United States on their motorcycles having visited Yellowstone numerous times as well as many other National Parks and scenic destinations. She and Sam fostered a love for the outdoors including camping, fishing and hiking in their kids which they all possess still today. She also had a passion for flower/vegetable/fruit gardening that she received from her parents and subsequently passed on to her children.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband Sam, son Steve, and grandson Andrew. She is survived by her three sons, Ronald, Perry, (Deborah) and Dave; her daughter Patricia (David), Grandsons Alfred, Tyler and John, granddaughters, Dianna, Michaela, Danielle and Megan, and her numerous great- grandchildren who were very special to her.
A memorial service is planned for March 15th at 1:00 p.m. at the Eatonville Eagles in Eatonville. The Reichels would really appreciate it if you would please come and share your memories.