Norma Gene McNutt

Norma passed away on January 23, 2002 at her home in Woodinville due to complications from liver cancer. She was aided by the gentility and tenderness of Group Health Hospice to a peaceful death at the age of 80. Her husband Tom & daughter Jeannie were present with her. Norma was born April 23, 1921 in Sioux City, Iowa, the only child of James & Eugenia Meighen. They later moved to Yankton, S.D. where she attended public schools & Yankton College where she earned her degree, a major in physical education & minor in history. She met Thomas Jay McNutt, her husband of 53 years, in a Spanish class at Yankton College, where they fell in love. They were married on September 20, 1947 at Assumption Catholic Church in Seattle. Norma became a Corporal & drum majorette in the Women?s Army Corps marching band, which traveled extensively across the U.S. & Canada to promote war bonds & greet hospital ships. She spoke often of her stays at the Presidio in San Francisco & spent time with her cousin, Patricia Sullivan. She was affectionately nicknamed ?Nornie? & ?Nordie? by her fellow workmates at the central YWCA in Seattle, where she was head of the physical education department for many years. She enjoyed teaching swimming to Down Syndrome children as well. She taught P.E. at The Bush School in Seattle from 1959 to 1966. Norma was a very religious woman, strong & active in the Catholic Church. She helped raise funds for United Neighbors for charity in Seattle. She was active in the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women & went to national conventions in the 1980's. St. Brendan's in Bothell has been her parish for many years, where she was a lector & Eucharistic minister. Norma had an abundance of friends from church that she held very dear to her heart, most especially her bridge & pinochle pals from the Royal Oaks neighborhood. She & Tom made many friends at Brittany Park retirement home in Woodinville where they live. She spoke so highly of all of the staff at Brittany Park. If you were fortunate enough to receive one of her embroidered tablecloths as a gift, each taking more than 6 months to sew, you knew you were someone special in her life. She would also donate embroidered tablecloths for the Children's Orthopedic Hospital action, which was sure to bring in over $100.00 each. She will be sorely missed by her husband Tom, of Woodinville, son Paul & daughter-in-law Diane of Everett & her daughter Jeannie Van Valkenburg & son-in-law Michael of Carnation. Her grandchildren brought her her much joy & happiness - Tommy 10, Emily 6 & Steven 3. ''Grammie'' loved to read to them & see their artwork & schoolwork. Viewing will begin at 10 a.m. with a Funeral Mass to follow at 11 a.m. on Monday, 1/28/2002 at St. Brendan Catholic Church 10100 NE 192nd, Bothell. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you make a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Bothell or the charity of your choice in Norma's honor. Arrangements by Bothell Funeral Home.