Obituary for Mildred Nadine Haas

Mildred “Millie” N. Haas

Longtime Ponca City resident, Mildred “Millie” N. (Crites) Norman Haas died on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2014 at the Ponca City Medical Center surrounded by her loved ones. She was 86. There will be a Graveside service in honor of her life at 2:00PM on Friday, May 16, 2014 at Odd Fellow’s Cemetery under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory.

Millie was born on August 16, 1927 in Cushing, OK to Leonard and Marinda (Cates) Crites. She received her education in Ponca City Schools where she met and later married Frederick Chester “Chick” Norman in 1944. They lived in California for a brief time while Chick worked as a factory worker. The moved back home to Ponca City and in 1959 purchased “Frank & Sylvia’s” changed the location and re-named it “Chick and Millie’s Blue Moon Restaurant. The Blue Moon quickly became a big hit in the community and for decades the lines would flow out into the parking lot on Friday and Saturday nights to satisfy many cravings for their famous ribs and steaks. When Chick died in 1974, Millie continued to run the business with great success. In 1976, Millie married George Hunter Haas, Jr. who contributed to the Restaurant’s success. Later, Millie’s son Curtis joined the operation of the business.

Millie was known for her generosity in the community & beyond. She gave to many charities and sponsored an endless amount of teams & individuals involved in a variety of activities over the years. Millie’s children and grandchildren were the love of her life. When not running the business, she enjoyed every moment possible with them. All who were blessed enough to have known Millie were touched by her warmth, positive spirit, and strong will. Millie was truly a mother to all with unconditional nurturing to not only family, but employees, friends, and other members of the community. She also had a unique way of making people laugh with her quick wit and great sense of humor.

She is survived by one sister, Lucille Johnson of Pryor, OK; one son, George “Skip” Haas of Ponca City; one daughter, Dixie Haas of Phoenix, AZ; 11 grandchildren, Jennifer Vandegriff, Hunter Haas, Summer Borsack, Candy Norman, Landon Norman, Trevor Norman, Connor Norman, Evan Norman, Katelyn Bottgeer, Kaleb Bottger, and Brayden Bottger; 9 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, John Hayes; her step-mother, Hazel Crites; one son, Curtis, S. Norman; 7 Siblings, Beatrice Shanko, Jeneva Cochran, Joseph Crites, Harrison Crites, Ralph Crites, Curtis Crites and Calvin Crites.

The family will be at 83 Elmwood.

Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Curtis S. Norman Scholarship Fund, Northern Oklahoma College Foundation, Inc., 1220 E. Grand Ave., P.O. Box 310, Tonkawa, OK 74653.

Source: Trout Funeral Home