Norma Jean Smith Murtaugh, 89, passed away peacefully at her home on June 10, 2020. Visitation will be held at Parkway Funeral Home, Ridgeland, Mississippi, on Sunday, June 14, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and on Monday, June 15, 2020 from 9:30 to 10:30 am. The funeral service will immediately follow on Monday at 10:30 am in the chapel with the graveside service following.
Norma was born on November 28, 1930 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Plen Smith and Grace Ellen Wilson Smith. There were 12 children in the family.
In 1936 at six years old, Norma survived smallpox at a time when 80% of children did not. At the age of 12 during the time of World War II, she worked part time for a hospital in Terre Haute. She graduated from Gerstmeyer Technical High School in Terre Haute in 1948. She married Kenneth Murtaugh in 1949, and they spent sixty two years together. She lived in several states in her life: Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, and finally settled in Mississippi.
Norma worked selling magazines and served her family as a homemaker; but most importantly, she was a skilled seamstress. She worked for Levi Strauss and for several dress shops in Jackson including Maison Weiss, Cotton Hopper, and Fashion Post. She even made antebellum costumes for George Washington’s Mt. Vernon historical homesite in Virginia. She also enjoyed sewing banners for churches.
Norma is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth Murtaugh; 2 daughters, Marjorie Harvill and Joyce McEntyre; a foster daughter, Donna Burks; a grandson, Ben Murtaugh; 6 brothers, Raymond Smith, Harvey Hayhurst, Jesse Smith, Wayne Smith, Bob Smith, and Loran Smith; and 4 sisters, Rosa LeMaire, Martha Shields, Mary Smith, and Lenora Smith.
She is survived by her daughter, Carol Murtaugh; and her son, Kenneth Eugene Murtaugh; a foster daughter, Lynn Egan; 9 grandchildren, Cherye Hancock Graves, Lori Hancock Burkett, Jonna Hancock Gilbert, Beverly Murtaugh, Michael Harvill, Zachary Harvill, Joy Castagna, Tina Landry Miller, and Danielle Landry Hughes;
and 16 great grandchildren, Alan Graves, Aaron Graves, Andrew Graves, Zachary Knudzen, Gaven Folks, Addie Gilbert, Brookelynn Gilbert, Beau Gilbert, Taylor Sarris, Hope Hughes, Cadence Bing, Kenneth Miller, Michael Hughes, Christopher Hughes, Haylee Hughes, and Deliah Harvill.
She loved playing music and singing. She played the piccolo in her high school band, and she played the autoharp and piano.
Norma loved Jesus. She loved church, her Bible, praying, and watching Christian television programs as she sewed. She also served for years in doing ministry work in prisons and nursing homes.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Norma Murtaugh’s name to Samaritan’s Purse at P.O. Box 3000, Boone, North Carolina 28607.
Please visit www.parkwayfuneralhomeridgeland.com for online guestbook.
