Neva Rayl

When you carry around a nickname like “Peaches” for more than 90 years, you’re nothing if not sweet. “Grandma Peaches”, “Aunt Peachie” (and the many other variations thereof), warmed hearts and souls across Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and beyond for nearly a century.

Neva was born on August 16, 1926 to Edith Marie Sharp and Grover Cleveland Grossarth in Quincy, Kansas. Neva Naomi Grossarth was the middle of five children. She married James A Cooper on Oct. 25, 1943 in Toronto, Kansas and graduated from Toronto Kansas High School the following year where she was also a member of the basketball team.

James and Naomi had three children — James, Gloria and Barbara — before husband James’ sudden death in 1950.

Naomi moved to the Kansas City area and married Donald Rex Rayl in 1966. Don and Naomi spent more than 40 years together before he passed away in 2009.

Naomi retired in 1983 after working more than 30 years as office manager for Research Products, a flour mill company based in Salina, Kansas. She spent her early retirement years in Gravois Mills, Missouri at the Lake of the Ozarks before stints in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, El Dorado, Kansas. and suburban Kansas City. In each city — and up to the very end — she was active in her church and in any card playing group she could find.

Naomi is survived by: Two daughters: Gloria Michota of Smithfield, Virgina and Barbara Lopez of Olathe, Kansas; siblings: sister, Vivian Pendlay of El Dorado, Kansas; brother William Grossarth of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Eight grandchildren: James Cooper II of San Antonio, Texas; Jeff Cooper of San Antonio, Texas; Corrina Van of Chesterfield, Virgina.; David Titus of Lakenheath, England; Todd Stewart of Orlando, Florida; Kelly Pfannenstiel of Olathe, Kansas; Taryn Cooper of Prosper, Texas and Taylor Cooper of McKinney, Texas; Ten great grandchildren; and Five great-great grandchildren.

Naomi is preceded in death by her parents Grover and Edith Grossarth; Husbands James Cooper and Donald Rayl; sisters: Etha Demler of Virgil, Kansas and Mamie McJunkin of El Dorado, Kansas; and son James Cooper of McKinney, Texas.

Per her wishes, Naomi was cremated. A graveside service will be held in Toronto Kansas Cemetery at a future date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to your local animal shelter is suggested.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McGilley-Frye.com for the Rayl family.