Jerry Marie Marquardt

Jerry was born December 31, 1937, in Cyril, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Orville Laughlin, and her two sisters, Margie Lamb and Leota Rogers.

She is survived by her daughter, Cindy Byram and her husband Gregg; her sons, Brent Marquardt and wife Angela and Brad Marquardt; her grandchildren, Ashlee Byram and fiancé Sean Garms, Morgan Zantout and her husband Omar, Madison Symonds and her husband Nyko, and Mackenzie and Brandon Marquardt; also survived by Nizam Murshed, he was her best friend, longtime companion, business partner, and care-giver that never left her side.

Jerry grew up in Harrah, Oklahoma, and graduated from McLoud High School. Upon graduation she attended the former Central State University, now known as UCO, where she was named Homecoming Queen her freshman year. While attending UCO, Jerry met and married the father of her children, the late Max Marquardt. Later, after obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma, Jerry taught kindergarten in the Putnam City School District and then became a career third grade teacher first at Jackson Elementary and then for many years at Cleveland Elementary in Norman. Upon retiring from teaching, Jerry owned and operated the Kettle Restaurant on Lindsey Street in Norman. She later founded, co-owned and operated her current business, Anything Goes, where she continued to work until she passed after her lengthy and brave battle with cancer. Everyone and anyone that worked for or with Jerry knows that when you dealt with her, you were always treated like family. For all of you that knew her, you know she was an amazing woman, devoted mother and grandmother, good listener, educator, and loved writing poems. She never failed to let those around her know how much she cared.

In lieu of flowers, Jerry would wish the continued support of the Work Activity Center in Moore, Oklahoma, where her son, Brad, has been a client in excess of 20 years. The Center benefits and provides work skills for special needs individuals of all ages. The Center relies completely on their existing contracts and donations of others. Please make donations to:

Work Activity Center, 203 E. Main, Moore, Oklahoma 73160 Attn: Beverly Young

A celebration of life service is scheduled for Tuesday on April 19th, 2016, at 6:00pm at First Baptist Church, 211 W. Comanche Street, Norman, Oklahoma.