Norma Mulloy

Norma Jean (Berney) Mulloy was the sweetest and kindest person who possessed the cooking skills of Betty Crocker and the crafting ability of Martha Stewart — and she absolutely would have blushed and waved away anybody saying that about her. But in so doing, she would have flashed her beautiful, natural smile that came so easily to her face. She was born March 14, 1933 in Goldendale, Washington to parents Roland and Marjorie Berney. The family moved from Goldendale when she was one year old to a small cattle ranch on the reservation five miles east of Omak. Growing up, Norma Jean played the violin, was Omak Stampede Princess, had grand champion steers at the Okanogan County Fair, and was Omak homecoming royalty. In 1950, she moved with her family to Conconully, graduating from Omak High School in 1951, and in the process, meeting the love of her life, Henry (Bud) Mulloy. Bud courted Norma Jean riding an old gray mare over the hills to visit her. They were married at the Omak Catholic Church November 27, 1954. Norma Jean worked as a legal secretary for some time before having and raising three children in Brewster: Leslie, Jody, and Patrick. She was a wonderful mother and well-suited to life on the ranch. She could do anything, from oil painting a rooster, which hung in her kitchen, finding just the right rock to paint a Swiss chateau or a curled up cat, to knitting, quilting, crocheting, gardening and growing vegetables, canning the perfect jams, peaches, and apple sauces, and adeptly seamstressing — prom and homecoming dresses for Leslie and Jody, shirts for Bud, and barrel racing jackets. She was also a leader for her kids’ Campfire and 4-H activities. Norma Jean had her own cake-making business, where she would artfully prepare cakes for any occasion for friends, family, and the community, with her specialty being gorgeously detailed wedding cakes. Her grandchildren lovingly remember the many birthday cakes she expertly tailored to their current interests, from He-man to The Little Mermaid to Mickey Mouse. She loved going to quarter horse races with Bud. They would travel to Sundowns, Portland Meadows, Rimrock, Les Bois Park, Lone Oak, and Grants Pass Downs to watch one of their horses race—the most successful being Joe Bunny Bid. Norma Jean and Bud always had dingo dogs on their farm, many of them ill-tempered, with the exception of their last dingo, Bo—the sweetest dog they had, always ready to jump in the back of one of their trucks for a ride. Norma Jean and Bud retired happily in Conconully. She will be remembered as humble, hardworking, talented, and ineffably graceful, from the way she moved, poured a cup of strong black coffee she liked so well, to her perfect penmanship. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brother Buzzy Berney. She is survived by daughters, Leslie (John) Martin and Jody (Tim) Lane; and son, Patrick (Cathy) Mulloy. Norma Jean is also survived by her seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, and the numerous friendships she cultivated. A graveside service will be held at the Conconully Pioneer Rest Cemetery on October 27th at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception at the Conconully Town Hall immediately after the graveside service

Norma Mulloy

March 14, 1933 - October 10, 2023