February 12, 1926 - May 25, 2016
We are celebrating the interesting life of a very special individual. Norma Jean Smith was born on February 12, 1926, in Bedford Indiana, to Daniel and Mary Jane Smith and passed away May 25, 2016, in Spokane Washington. The youngest of seven children born into a farming family, she milked cows before school, excelled as a student academically, was artistic and creative, sang in the glee club, enjoyed athletics, and acted in school plays. Her dream was to become an architect, but family circumstances and WWII times made nurses training a more achievable career path. Norma Jean became a Registered Nurse in 1947 at St. John’s Hospital in Anderson Indiana and soon met handsome WWII Navy Veteran, Jim Crull, and started a romance and partnership that lasted 69 years. Their lives took them from Indiana to Florida and then to Spokane Washington where they made their home and raised their family. In Spokane, Norma worked as a Surgical Nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital, and then as an Industrial Health Nurse for 27 years at Kaiser Aluminum before retiring. That is only part of the story, because Norma actively pursued many passions. She designed the family’s custom built home, golfed, bowled, enjoyed ballroom and square dancing, owned and rode horses, loved hosting family get-togethers, loved to paint beautiful pictures in acrylic and watercolor and designing and constructing amazing large doll houses that were auctioned annually to raise money for the Salvation Army. She also enjoyed engaging with her Spokane Valley United Methodist Church and Evergreen Fountain friends. She loved spending time camping and hiking at the scenic wilderness property they own in western Montana, spending many fun winters in Lake Placid Florida with family, traveling or motor-homing to see new places, and visiting her relatives in Indiana, Tennessee and Florida. She was always up for any activity or adventure and never complained one time about her battle with diabetes and declining health in recent years. Norma was strong, smart, articulate, confident and not afraid to speak her mind. She enjoyed meeting new people, and lived a long, productive life by any measure. Kudos to you Norma!!! Norma is survived by her Spokane/North Idaho family… husband Jim, daughter Marsha Nead (husband Curt), grandson Tylan Nead (wife Andrea, great grandchildren Kamryn and James), grandson Christian Nead (wife Hillary and great grandchildren Lydia and Scarlett), Niece Paula Pry (husband John, children Melissa and Jeff). She is also survived by her Seattle family… son John Crull (wife Darla), grandson Dale Fox (wife Suzy, great grandchild Jordan), grandson Darren Fox (wife Trish, grandchildren Elise, Miles and Devon); niece, Tracy Collins. Her sister, Midge Rittman (husband Raymond) and many wonderful nieces, nephews. Please join us in a celebration of her life on Monday, June 6, 2016, 1:00 p.m. at Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 115 N Raymond Rd. Spokane Valley WA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association.
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