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Mina Bell Norris Sovick left her earthly life at the age of 95, on July 30, 2019. She was born on November 10, 1923 in Time, PA in a log cabin in the countryside of Time. She was delivered by her maternal grandmother shortly before the doctor arrived. The family moved to Graysville, PA when she was about four years old and she attended elementary school there. The family moved again just before she was to begin high school, this time to Waynesburg, PA. She graduated there, and worked in a bank that summer, working as an assistant secretary. She enrolled in nursing school at Canonsburg, PA as Mina began a three year service there. She was married in 1943, during her senior year in nursing to Michael (Mike) Sovick. She had met him when she was a sophomore in high school and he was doing his practice teaching there when he was a senior at Waynesburg College. They met again when he was in the hospital in Canonsburg. She graduated from nurses training in October of 1944. The State Board exam was held in January 1945 for two days in Pittsburgh, PA. After passing the exam, she became a registered nurse.
Her nursing career was on hold because her first child Michael Norris Sovick was born on July 4, 1945. She and Mike had moved from their apartment in Canonsburg to a cute little house in McConnell’s Mills; a small village outside of Canonsburg. She worked part-time at Canonsburg Hospital that fall and spring. The family moved to Cambridge Springs, PA and then Susan Marie was born on April 24, 1948. The family moved again to Butler, PA and there, Mina was able to attend a nurse refresher course in the evenings for three months at Butler Memorial Hospital. In the late 1950’s, the family moved to Snyder, NY. There, Mina was a church Presbyterian Officer, and became a ruling elder in the Williamsville Presbyterian Church. Then in 1959, they moved to Houston, TX. There, Mina learned to play golf and that became one of the joys of her life.
After three years there, the move was to Norman, OK. The University of Oklahoma offered a nurse refresher course that was to be taught at Norman Municipal Hospital. Upon completion of the course it was required to work part time two days a week. So began her nursing career. Part time for a while, then 3 years as a staff nurse. Then to go to Dallas, TX for 2 weeks to attend an Intensive Care Unit seminar and then to sit in with the architects and plan an Intensive Care Unit. She was head nurse for 5 years in the unit and then was head coronary care nurse for 4 years. Then Mina became the Inservice Director then was re-named Nursing Education Supervisor for 5 years and retired in 1981. All of this occurred at what is now known as Norman Regional Hospital. Then it was time to help with the care ministry program at the First Presbyterian Church in Norman.
Then we moved to Montrose, CO for 17 years to be near her daughter and grandchildren. She and Mike contacted all the visitors to the Montrose Presbyterian Church for 5 years and made personal visits to many of them. Also, they were near the golf course and spent many hours there. Mina had a hole-in-one in September 1999.
She has been a loving mother and grandmother and is survived by her son Michael Norris Sovick and wife Ruby; grandchildren Wil and Coleen Sovick; daughter Susan’s children: grandchildren Chris Allen and wife Marjorie, great grandchildren Britni, Dylan, and Ashley, and grandson Ben Allen; nephew Phil Parks; niece Kathy Zietlow and husband Larry; great nephew Michael Parks and great niece Nicole Miller, and great nephews Bill Zietlow and wife Gina and great nephew John; great great nieces: Alexa, Haley and Grace Miller, Taylor and Kaitlin Zietlow.
Mina was preceded in death by her husband Mike, daughter Susan Allen, sister Marie Parks, and parents William and Arna Norris.
Memorial services will be 11:00 am Friday, August 9, 2019, at The First Presbyterian Church in Norman with Rev. Michael East officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Norman, 555 S. University Blvd. Norman, OK 73069.
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