Norma Jeanne Crook

Norma Jeanne (Thomas) Crook passed away peacefully with family at her side, September 28, 2023 in Tualatin, OR. She was 96 years old. Norma was the youngest of two daughters born to Carl M. and Frances Faye (Rube) Thomas in May 1927 in Portis, Kansas. She grew up in the small community located in what is known as wheat country, where she graduated from high school at age 16. After a stint as a camp counselor near the Red Rocks Park in Colorado, she attended college at Kansas State and University of Kansas Medical Center. She earned a B.S. in Home Economics and Nursing. During this time at college, she met her partner in life and future husband - Fred Crook - on a blind date with mutual friends. The two Jayhawk Alumni were married on Oct 2, 1949 at the Danforth Chapel, reportedly the first there ever. Fred was from Spokane, WA and earned his degree in Architecture. As Norma and Fred raised their family of three children, they followed his jobs between greater Kansas City, KS; Spokane, and Seattle, WA. Fred's employer went out of business during the Korean war, and they moved back to the KC area. In 1956 they moved again to the Puget Sound area, where Fred eventually worked for The Boeing Company. During this chapter in their life, company transfers moved the family to Cheyenne, WY and Grand Forks, ND. Following an opportunity in 1965, they left Boeing and came to Olympia, WA. Norma’s compassion and caring for others was demonstrated daily as a Registered Nurse at St. Peters Hospital (Olympia). During her 22-year career as a nurse, she cared for countless premature babies in the nursery. Her easy-going nature allowed her to successfully balance a nursing career with the demands of raising a family (including a menagerie of family pets). She also served as a nurse on some Medivac flights. Although she enjoyed her life in the Pacific Northwest, she always referred to Portis as "back home". Norma and Fred later relocated to Colonial Estates, a retirement community in Olympia, after his retirement. Her passion for gardening, and roses in particular, resulted in the creation of a beautiful “secret garden” at the Olympia home. Further, they joined with their new circle of friends on yearly winter getaways to sunny San Diego, CA. They were active members with the United Churches of Olympia for many years. In August 2007, Fred passed away. In 2017, Norma moved to Country Meadows Village in Woodburn, OR, to be closer to her children. Norma was a warm, loving, compassionate, and wonderful wife, mother, mother-in-law and aunt. Her gentle smile, warm laughter and soft-spoken manner is missed every day. She is preceded in death by her husband Fred Crook, parents Carl M. & Faye Thomas, and sister Bette Louise (Thomas) Dutton. She is survived by: her children Doug (Kathy Kowalczyk) Crook of Salem, OR; Anne Crook of Portland, OR; Julie (Phil) Jaegge of Peoria, AZ; grandson Scott (Sammie Matthews) Crook; and great-granddaughters Sierra and Emilia Matthews-Crook. Her cremains will be interred in 2024 alongside Fred's at the Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

Norma Jeanne Crook

May 30, 1927 - September 28, 2023