Naomi Kathleen Kilpatrick

Gillette, WY - Naomi Kathleen (Ross) Kilpatrick was born in Mountainburg, Arkansas on March 16, 1929 to Bryan and Iva (Perdue) Ross. She passed away on May 24, 2012 in Gillette, Wyoming while doing what she loved most, visiting with family.

Naomi grew up the second of five children in tiny Mountainburg where she developed her love of life, positive outlook and sense of humor, which endured her entire life. She married Charles Kilpatrick in 1945 shortly before he left for the war. When he returned, they were stationed in California for a short time. They first came to Naches in the late 40's but soon went back to Arkansas. They returned to Naches in the 50's where they stayed for good except for brief stints in New Meadows, ID and Valley, WA.

Naomi was a fun-loving stay-at-home mom until her youngest child started school. She then worked in a fruit warehouse and later as a hotel desk clerk. She loved her TV shows and reading books, even after losing most of her vision and having to listen to books on tape. She would get up to 10 books at a time and have them all "read" within days. Even though she proclaimed to dislike animals, she adored "The Cat Who . . ." books as well as any good mystery.

She was a fantastic cook and was famous (in our family, at least) for her fried okra, beans and cornbread and her wonderful pies as well as all of her Christmas goodies. Before her eyesight failed, she loved doing crafts and would make a ton of Christmas ornaments every year for her multitude of progeny.

Whether she was known as Naomi, Naoma, Aunt Omi, Mom, Granny, Grandma-Great or G.G., she was adored by all who knew her. Even though we know she is having a ball with her loved ones in heaven, we're "so [sad] we could spit!"

Naomi was preceded in death by her husband Charles, son Don, daughter Patty Maggard, grandson Jeff Meloy, great-grandson Luth Garcia and sister Virginia Dunning.

She is survived by her large and loving family - daughters Jeanne Mansfield, Tammy (Ross) Huber, daughter-in-law Kay Kilpatrick, son-in-law Jerry Maggard, brother David (Claudine) Ross, sisters Alla Mae (Wallace-dec'd) Hanna and Sue (Bill) Foster, brother-in-law Frank Dunning, 12 grandchildren - Randy (Angie) Meloy, Cheri (Damon) Pope, Christy Hutton, Yvonne (Bill) Hays, Dan (Stephanie) Kinley, Tony (Lacy) Mansfield, Dustin (Amber) Kinley, Breezi Elyea, Art Huber, Lincoln Kilpatrick, Kyle (Stephanie) Huber, Katie (Michael) Nordhougen, 28 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandsons. Amazingly, she could remember each and everyone's birthday.

She is also survived by her brothers- and sisters-in-law who were more like best friends than in-laws, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends who were all beloved and cherished.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at Summit View Church of Christ, 100 No. 72nd Ave., Yakima, WA. Keith & Keith Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.