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Colleen Mathews Quick died January 27th at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence. She was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in 2013; PSP is an uncommon brain disorder affecting about 3 in 100,000.
Colleen was born April 24,1940 in Ogallala, NE to Howard Vernon Mathews and Nellye Marie Larsen. She is survived by her husband, Edward, of Lawrence; her son, Stephen (Glenda Swetman), of San Francisco, CA; her daughter, Vanessa (Serkan Kutlubay), of Astoria, New York; her son, Andrew, of Derwood, MD; and her sister, Sue Brodt, of Jameson, MO. Her parents are deceased as is her sister, Rose Christensen. Her son, Edward, died of leukemia in1979, at the age of 12.
Colleen grew up in Oberlin, KS. Her singing talent and mastery of the clarinet developed early, and through her directing ability she became the Drum Majorette of the Decatur County High School band. She graduated from Ottawa University in 1962 with a B.A. in biology. There she was Drum Majorette of the University band. At Ottawa, she met H. Edward Quick, Jr. and they were married in 1961.
During the 1960s, Colleen was a laboratory research assistant on a project examining the metabolism of the brains of lower mammals in the research laboratory of the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. While living in St. Louis, she continued her interest in choral music by participating in the choir of the Episcopal Cathedral under the direction of Ronald Arnatt.
After moving to Washington, DC in 1969, Colleen was a volunteer guide at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. She became an assistant in their freeze-dry laboratory, where specimens were prepared for inclusion in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology's museum collection, which holds the largest collection of vertebrate specimens in the world. Colleen was also a guide at the National Zoo, where she participated in research on the behavior of great apes by spending countless hours observing the social behavior of gorillas.
Many of her closest friends in Washington were in the book discussion group she helped organize in the early 1970s. Her knowledge of American and world literature was extensive as was her love and collection of mystery and crime novels.
Colleen was a member of the Candlelighters, a group of parents supporting research toward the treatment of childhood cancers and she was an original member of the group that established the Ronald McDonald House in Washington. The House provides housing and support for families with children being treated for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Colleen served on the Board of Directors, fund-raising committee, and wrote, edited and did layout of the House's newsletter.
From 1987 until retiring in 2005, Colleen was an editor at the Borden Institute, Office of the Surgeon General, United States Army at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. She worked as an editor on several volumes of the series Textbooks of Military Medicine, which provided information and research about medical issues unique to Army personnel. Her specialty was editing and clarifying expert technical information into understandable language for Army doctors.
After moving to Lawrence in 2005, she volunteered at Audio-Reader, reading books aloud to Kansans with visual impairments, and the Early Childhood Development Center of the Lawrence Public Schools, where she selected an Outstanding Volunteer. She belonged to the New Generation Society of Lawrence, the Towanda book group and was elected precinct member of the Douglas County Democratic Committee.
Colleen donated her remains to further the PSP research conducted by the Mayo Clinic's Department of Neurology. A gathering to celebrate her life will occur in April.
Remembrances of Colleen may be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities, Greater Washington, DC 3727 14th St. NE Washington, DC 20017 or at http://rmhcdc.org/donate.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Ed, Our thoughts are with you at this time.
Mary Burchill
February 3, 2018
Colleen was a remarkable woman and a great contributor to the betterment of our world! She will be sorely missed.
Ruth Ann McDonald
February 2, 2018
Colleen led an exemplary and inspirational life. She'll be missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to have made her acquaintance.
Bob White
February 2, 2018
Dear Ed and family,
Colleen was lovely, brilliant and a true lady, and we feel privileged to have known her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time and we send our love. -Toni and Chuck Wurth (via the Towanda's)
January 30, 2018
Dear cousin, I wish I could have known you better. Ed, Vanessa and all the family ... Bless you all. And, bless Colleen for her contribution and love to all of you.
January 30, 2018
In loving memory of a wonderful mother to you, Vanessa, sending you so much love!!!
Kayte Curtis
January 30, 2018
So sorry for this incredible loss. Colleen was such an amazing person. Her intelligence, wit and humor could have been intimidating to a daughter in law just getting to know the family, yet she was so accepting and kind -so kind- to me, that I always felt welcome. Will forever be grateful to Ed and Colleen for giving me shelter after evacuating from Hurricane Katrina. It is clear that she accomplished so much- helping establish the Ronald McDonald house in DC, editing medical textbooks, raising three incredible kids, etc., etc. Yet one wonders what achievements she may have reached had she been born today. Hers was a time of transition between the old traditions and the new opportunities for women. Steve and I feel lucky to have witnessed her beautiful relationship with Ed. The depth of their love was absolutely stunning. Steve, Andy and Vanessa, her light lives on through you. With much love and gratitude, Glenda
January 30, 2018
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