Norma Lou (Murphy) Quick

Norma Lou (Murphy) Quick was born November 9, 1920, to Christina (Ryberg) Murphy and James Henry Murphy in Gretna, Nebraska. She was the youngest of three children with brothers Robert Henry and Jack Alfred Murphy. 
She grew up in Omaha, being raised primarily by her mother during the Depression. She often talked of what the family did to survive the tough times which undoubtedly helped form some of her later in life joys. She graduated from Benson High School at the age of sixteen. At the age of twenty-three, and without her mother’s approval, Norma enlisted in the Navy. She went for training and then to New York City. She would recount many events while in the Navy that also shaped her life forever. She met friends that she kept for a lifetime. She had a fascinating time and often talked about wanting to go back and visit.
After WW II was over, Norma returned to Omaha. In 1948, while visiting her brother Jack in Hermiston, Gladys Ulmer arranged a blind date for her with Thomas Lynn Quick and we all know the rest of that story. They married on March 6, 1949. Norma moved to the farm on what is now Quick Road. Omaha city girl to Oregon farm girl was quite an adjustment but she met the challenges. 
They had five children, Janice Quick-Wolfe (Harlan), Kristine McCullough, Nancy Hunt, Bill and Bert Quick. At the time of Tom’s death on April 22, 1969, Janice was about to graduate from high school while Bert was still in grade school. When people would ask Norma how she could manage all the children and the farm, she said her children were what kept her moving forward. 
Norma spent the next 20 years continuing to work at the Umatilla Army Depot before retiring. She then spent her time at garage sales, auctions, gun shows and antique shops, often accompanied by her grandson, Scott. She set upon buying coffee pots and hoped to eventually write a book about them.  After accumulating about 760, she displayed them in her ‘museum’ and hoped to sell them as a collection to perhaps a coffee company.
She also spent hundreds of hours finding and repairing blankets and sleeping bags and donating them to Agape House.  She would say how she was bothered by people being cold. If blankets were not good enough for people, they were made into doggie blankets and donated. 
For about the last 10 years of life, Norma enjoyed watching television, reading, crossword puzzles, playing the lottery and taking care of her many cats. She always loved her cats. 

Norma died on April 21, 2017, at home which was always her plan. She was cared for by her daughter Kris for the last 10 years and her son Bill for more than 15 years.

Norma is survived by daughters Janice, Kristine and Nancy and sons Bill and Bert. She had seven grandchildren Scott McCullough, Megan Hunt, Tracy Kratochvil, Kathy Bruns, Erik Quick, Nickolas Quick and Hanna Quick plus ten great-grandchildren.
She will forever be in our daily lives. 

A graveside service will be held on Friday, April  22, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. at the Hermiston Cemetery, Hermiston, Oregon.

Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.

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