Nora-Lee Luttrell

In Loving Memory

Nora-Lee Luttrell passed away peacefully on Monday, April 28th, 2025, at her home in Auburn Hills, MI at the age of 60. She was surrounded by friends and family.

Nora-Lee was preceded in death by her stepfather Bill Burgess, and close friends John George and April Morris. She is survived by her husband Troy Govan, children Isaac Govan and Valerika Luttrell, as well as mother Susan Burgess, father Robert Luttrell (Judy), siblings Robert (Kim) Luttrell, Sara (Peter) Scott, Amy (Scott) Perry, Susan (Bob) Neminski, Katy Burgess, Benjamin (April) Luttrell, Meghan (Mike) Palmer, nieces and nephews Nathan (Elizabeth) Scott, Eric (Leanne) Scott, Aaron Whitlock, Abigail Neminski, Benjamin Neminski, Fletcher Palmer, and Gwendolyn Palmer, and great-nephews Marshall Scott and soon-to-arrive Greer Scott.

Nora-Lee was born in Davenport, IA on June 11th 1964. Her family ultimately moved to Michigan where she grew up in the small town Columbiaville and attended LakeVille schools. Nora-Lee studied costuming and theater at University of Michigan-Flint and had an early career as a seamstress and costumer in Chicago. She also spent summers as the costumer for the summer stock theater Wagon Wheel in Warsaw, IN.

Her true calling, however, was working closely with children, being a mother and supporting other mothers and their families. She returned to University of Michigan-Flint for her Bachelors' of Education with a goal of working with elementary age children. With the birth of her own children, she became active in the Oakland County home school community. She volunteered with the Michigan La Leche League and worked closely with the Oakland County REACH program.

It would be difficult to measure how many lives Nora-Lee touched in her work as a volunteer and passionate member of the REACH organization. Most notably, Nora-Lee returned to her theater roots and became the beloved director of children's plays for REACH Drama, often modifying scripts and cast lists to create parts for as many children who wanted to participate, regardless of age. If a four-year-old wanted to be a flower in a fairytale garden, Nora-Lee would make that happen.

Additionally, Nora-Lee worked with the Flint Community Players, directing them in productions of Gypsy in 2018 and Disaster! The Musical in 2022.

Nora-Lee was a natural humanitarian, passionate about recycling, and often went out of her way to help many families in need. Her home became a retreat for young people and she was a second mother to too many children to count.

Nora-Lee remained very active in her community, even during her cancer treatments, and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Troy. She greatly enjoyed facilitating the coffee hour after services.

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