Monday, July 15, 2013

Tribute to Naomi

I lost my dearest friend, Naomi Wing, yesterday morning, July 14th. 

Naomi Jul 2010

I’m so very happy I got to visit with her last Wednesday when I went to Alamosa for my yearly physical.  I took her outside to feel the sunshine on her back and breath the outside air.  We chatted and laughed.  We picked a couple of flowers so she could see them up close and talked about the rhubarb she use to have in her yard and all the ways we use to cook it.  Naomi loved her garden, especially her peonies.

I met Naomi about 30 years ago when I joined her chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.  When she broke her hip 17 years ago I visited her in the nursing home where she was recuperating and then continued to visit her at her home.  Since she didn’t have any family in town I kinda watched over her taking her shopping to doctor’s visits, etc. About nine years ago it was safe for Naomi to be at home by herself, so she went into a nursing home. I visited her frequently and after we went on the road as fulltime RVers I sent her postcards and phone her.

Naomi

Naomi was 97 1/2 years old and as sharp as a tack all the way to the end.  Although in a wheelchair, Naomi was a avid reader, especially mysteries and anything Jimmy Carter wrote.  She read the whole Valley Courier newspaper everyday, cover to cover….I think even all the classified ads!

Naomi taught me how to quilt, making me hand piece and quilt my first quilt…a miniature, but still a pain….Naomi required 10-12 stitches an inch and that wasn’t easy, or even possible in my case. 

Widowed at an early age she had difficulty finding housing as a single mother. Finally a gentleman rented her a small house that use to sit where the Boyd Elementary School garden sat.  Naomi would ride her bike from there to Adams Normal School (as Adams State University use to be known back then) to become a teacher.  As she rode she was trailed by her son, Paul, as he rode his bike along with her.  Naomi would put Paul on the floor under her desk with a coloring book to keep him occupied while she attended each of her college classes.  Isn’t that an extraordinary story?

Naomi taught school for 39 years, mostly third grade.  She was a stern teacher and exacting teacher.  But in the years following her retirement when I’d take her out shopping we always met one of her former students and they always praised her saying, “you was harsh but boy did I learn from you”.

Naomi told me of Evans school not having a cafeteria and how she walked home from school to prepare lunch for her and her children, eating and cleaning up and walking back to school to continue teaching the rest of the day.  Amazing.

Naomi loved to knit, quilt and dabbled in painting also.  She had exquisite taste in clothing and home décor….always partial to brown tones, but liked jewel tones in clothing.  In fact, she asked me to knit her a shawl in purple with some red stripes.  I bought the yarn two weeks ago but hadn’t started knitting it yet….I’m sorry about that.

I know I am rambling on, but it has been good for me to reminisce.  Naomi was such a lady and I learned so much from her about life and how to treat people.  I will miss her tremendously.

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There will be a memorial service for Naomi on Saturday, July 20th at 11 a.m. at Rogers’ Family Mortuary on State Avenue in Alamosa.  I sure hope many of her former students would attend.

 

 

13 comments:


  1. Sorry to hear of your loss. My mom passed two years ago July 14.

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  2. I am sorry for your loss... but so happy that you two had the friendship that you did. Your tribute to her is wonderful... such lovely memories that you'll value forever.

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  3. Glad you had each other as friends. She must have been extraordinary.

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  4. I am so saddened to hear of your friends passing. We learn so much from those we come to love and we seldom get the real opportunity to just say thank you. We miss them so when they are gone because they became such a part of our lives. I am hoping that God will grant you solace in knowing that you meant as much to her as she did to you!

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  5. Bobbie, I'm so sorry for your loss. I could tell that Naomi was a special person to you by your writings in your blogs. May her peace be sweet and your mind at ease. We all have regrets. Love always, Susie

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  6. Thank you for sharing your stories of Naomi. You two had a special relationship.

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  7. Your tribute was sweet, and I think you should go ahead and make Naomi's shawl! You will wear it with a warm feeling of your special friendship. Hugs, Dianne

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    1. What a great idea, Dianne.I think I will do just that. I'll remember her every time I wear it.

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  8. Very nice tribute to an obviously great person. Good job!

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  9. Bobbie,
    Sad to hear about Naomi's passing. I know how special she was to you and I'm sure you were a wonderful blessing in her life as well. While we were at Bryce we learned that our friend Ted, back in North Carolina has passed away. The memories of our friends are the things that we carry with us after they are gone. Hugs to you both...she would be proud of the wonderful tribute that you wrote for her.

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  10. butterbean carpenterJuly 24, 2013 at 2:48 PM

    Howdy B&J,

    So sorry, to hear about Naomi's passing, but she had a great, wonderful, happy life, with a wonderful friend/adopted daughter in you, to care for her last days.. I'm sure she was content and ready for her trip to Heaven ... Your love is enough for anyone and we surely feel and pray for y''alls peace and comfort...
    Hope that you keep doing 'jazzy-hands' to everyone !! Remember y'all are too, also !!!!!!!!

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  11. What a lovely tribute to a person that was so important in your life, we all can feel the love you had for her. She was blessed to have you, as you were to have her. Thanks for sharing.
    A nice reminder to us all to cherish and love our dear friends. As my dear friend (93years young) says "It's later then you think".

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  12. She sounds like an extraordinary lady!

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