Norma Jean McMullin O’Neil, of Price, Utah passed away July 18,2021.
She was born on April 8, 1930 in Castle Gate, Utah, to Ralph and Rhea Lucille Anderson McMullin. She was the oldest of 4 children. They moved to the Uintah Basin when she was 2.
She always said Christmas was her favorite holiday when she was young because her dad always made it magical for her and her siblings. She attended school at Altera High School and graduated in 1948.
She married Ralph Crapo O’Neil on Dec. 17, 1948 in Ballard, Utah. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake City LDS. Temple on 23 April, 1964. Ralph and Norma were childhood neighbors and friends. They were married after he returned from serving in the Air Force during WWII.
They lived in Price, Utah for a short time while Ralph worked in the coal mines. They moved back to Roosevelt until 1977. They then returned back to Price for the remainder of their lives. During this time they had 4 children; Ralph Gregory (Greg), Laurie Jean, Randy Vaun, and Douglas Frank.
She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints and had many callings in the church. Her favorite calling was serving in the Manti Temple Baptistry for 6 years with the love of her life, Ralph.
She had several passions. One was looking for rocks and arrowheads. She made countless trips to the desert in search of rocks to put in her yard. But it couldn’t be just any rock, it had to have character. It had to have her stamp of approval before she would allow it in her yard, unless it was given to her by one of her kids or grandkids. Hunting for arrowheads with her was a delight, unless you found one before she did. If you dared to admit you found an arrowhead before she did you were automatically labeled a “damn little shit!”, quickly followed by, “let me see that!” She never knew some of her family would take arrowheads they had already found, hide them in their pockets and claim they had found one within 5 minutes of getting out of the truck, just so they could hear her say those loving words.
Another of her passions was crocheting. She crocheted countless Afghans, doilies, dolls, table cloths, bedspreads, the list goes on. Not only did she enjoy it, she was very talented at it. She tried teaching all her granddaughters to crochet; some successfully, some not so much.
She enjoyed the outdoors. Camping with her family was a favorite when they were all in their younger years. Family reunions, hunting trips, just for fun trips, it didn’t matter the occasion. She and Ralph spent countless hours fishing together after their kids were grown and gone. She would sit and crochet while Ralph reeled in the big ones.
She also loved her flower gardens. She had a real green thumb for it, too. Her yard was always so beautiful and well taken care of. Before she got too old to move around all her rocks and flowers, you would almost always find her outside pulling the weeds, digging up this flower because it would look better over there, putting all her little knick-knack yard ornaments that she loved to collect amongst the flowers, or just sitting in her swing admiring her handiwork while drinking a diet coke.
Her greatest passion and joy was her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Every time you walked into her house her face would light up with the biggest smile. The children were her absolute favorite. She loved every minute spent with them. It didn’t matter how long you could stay; it was never long enough. She would always say her family was her greatest joy, and it truly showed.
During the last few years of her life, she truly enjoyed going out to Roosevelt to spend a week at a time with her two sisters. I don’t know who enjoyed it more. Norma was always close to her sisters, but it seems the last few years, this was especially true. She always talked about how much she enjoyed spending time with them and their families and how much they all meant to her. She loved them all like they were her own kids. They all held a special place in her heart.
She is survived by her children, Greg, Laurie, Randy (Lori), Doug; 14 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren.
Norma is preceded in death by her parents; loving husband; daughter-in-law, Cheryl; son-in-law, Sheldon and a great-grandchild.
Funeral service, Friday, July 23, 2021, 11:00 a.m., Mitchell Funeral Home in Price where the family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Interment, Cliffview Cemetery in Price. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.