Norma Cunningham's Obituary
Norma “Jean” (Fry) Cunningham passed peacefully on January 8, 2026 at the age of 100. She was born in Corydon, Iowa and raised on the family farm by her parents, Myrl Fry and Ruth (McMurry) Fry, and with her siblings, Betty Jones, Don Fry, and Jo Wilson, all of whom pre-deceased her.
Jean had a caregiver’s heart and knew she wanted to be a nurse at an early age. When she was in the 2nd grade, she was cast as a Red Cross nurse in a school play. From that time on, she knew nursing was her future. After Jean finished high school, she joined the US Cadet Nurse Corps. The program paid for nursing school tuition, books, and uniforms, for a promise to stay in nursing through the end of the war. With enrollment in this program, Jean was off to Des Moines to attend nurses’ training at Iowa Methodist Hospital for 3 years, graduating in 1946.
After nursing school, Jean moved to Colorado Springs and worked in private practice at the hospitals there. During this time, she met the love of her life, Wilmer “Carl” Cunningham, who pre-deceased her in 1985. They were married on November 25, 1950, in Spokane, WA.
Carl was a mechanical engineer, and they spent the first 6 years of their marriage moving about the country following Carl’s construction jobs. Jean took a break from nursing when they welcomed their first child, Linda, followed by their second daughter, Madison, a few years later. They moved to Tacoma WA in 1956 to put down roots. Two more children followed in the ensuing years, Marty and Cathy, completing their family. In support of her children, Jean became active in preschool, the PTA, Girl Scouts, and Campfire Girls.
Jean’s service life branched out beyond her family in 1961, when she joined the Dr. Lawrence T. McNerthney Orthopedic Guild (Tacoma Orthopedic Association, later renamed the Mary Bridge Brigade) which worked to raise money to support Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. This became a lifelong passion for Jean as she was an active member of the Brigade until her passing this year.
Jean served in many roles during her Brigade tenure including serving on the board of directors for 18 years, becoming President of the Association from 1994-1996. She chaired the holiday wreath program for many years and the Membership Committee. In 1994 she created the WIC Baby Shower to celebrate “Make a Difference Day”. Following her tenure as Association President, Jean led the History Committee, researching, assembling, and organizing the history of the Brigade. The history of every guild was documented, and in 2010, Jean co-authored the book “The History of Tacoma Orthopedic Association”. She joined her second guild in 2008, the Tapp Guild for Past Presidents, of which she was still an active member.
Jean was honored to be awarded the first Mary Bridge Brigade Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 for her leadership and service in the organization. She was further honored in 1996 when a group of young women created a new guild and named it the “Jean Cunningham Guild”.
Jean’s nursing career resumed in 1967. She worked at Westgate Convalescent Center for 4 years. Then in 1971, she started working at Tacoma General Hospital, where her career spanned 18 years, retiring as the Assistant Nurse Manager on a surgical floor.
Jean enjoyed traveling, baking, and stitchery. She shared many wonderful cruise adventures with good friends and her sister. She took baking classes learning the art of making delicious Norwegian Christmas cookies and stitchery classes learning various sewing and needlework techniques, creating many beautiful pieces of work.
But her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren (Ian Chouinard, Sigourney Jellins, Tennyson Jellins, Whittaker Jellins, Wil Cunningham, Ashley Reeves, James Reeves, and great grandson, Tevin Chouinard). She was so proud of all her grandchildren and was always interested in keeping up with their lives.
Jean is survived by her children Linda Cunningham (Daniel Brockman) of Gig Harbor, Madison Jellins of Half Moon Bay, CA, Marty Cunningham (Angie Kirschner) of Colville, WA, and Cathy Reeves (Michael Reeves) of Gig Harbor, her grandchildren and her great grandson.
Jean was a strong, independent woman throughout her life, dedicated to her family and the care of children in our community through her volunteer work. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A memorial service will be held on January 29, 2026 at 10 am in the Aspen Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home at 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW in Tacoma. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mary Bridge Brigade in memory of Jean Cunningham. https://www.marybridgebrigade.org/memorial-or-honorary-commemoratives
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