On Saturday, Jan. 6, Naomi D. Schaefer peacefully passed from this earth into the arms of Jesus.
She was born on June 15, 1928, in a sod house in Russell, Kansas, to Wallace (John) and Juanita Scott. The family moved from Kansas to Randle, Washington, when Naomi was a young girl. She grew up in Randle, and there met her childhood sweetheart, Jack Schaefer.
Upon completing his service in the United States Navy, Jack and Naomi were married and moved to Chehalis where Jack was employed by the Lewis County Public Utility District. They started their family with the birth of Danny and later Linda Sue (Susie). Naomi was a wonderful wife, mother, housekeeper and cook. Her wild blackberry cobblers were famous. She supplemented the family income by providing child care and working some part-time jobs. A great blessing occurred when she agreed to provide care for Ken and Jean Amrine’s 10-day-old daughter, Kenni. Kenni became the “third” Schaefer child and was a great blessing to the family. It was devastating when Jack passed away at age 65. She now had to become the caretaker and master gardener of their beautifully landscaped home on Rice Road. She learned to operate the riding mower and, in her words, “I just put it in high gear and let it rip.” We think she might have been the only person in Lewis County who was given a warning for driving too fast on her riding lawn mower. After grieving the loss of Jack, she reengaged and focused on family and friends.
fiShe was fiercely competitive and not ashamed to “pray to Jesus” as she prepared to roll the dice when playing marbles (Aggravation). It was in that environment that she would occasionally call a “beloved grandchild” a “dirty rat” when they took her off the marble board. She was also a prankster. She gained access to Pastor Don Detrick’s office and placed a rubber snake in his desk drawer, almost giving him a premature arrival in heaven. One of her proudest athletic moments was when she was in her late 70s, playing softball at a Bethel Church seniors outing. As she tells the story, she hit a home run and broke her femur sliding into home plate. The truth was she stepped on the baseball bat that had been left at home plate, fell and broke her femur. There was no convincing her of anything else. Her first question in the emergency room: “Was I safe at home?” In her 90s, she still enjoyed playing a card game called “31.” She would laugh with glee when she won. Her greatest joy was holding her great-grandchildren, and she loved going to Bill & Bea’s for a burger and strawberry shake.
She loved Jesus! She was a faithful member of Bethel Church, Chehalis, for 74 years. She was a prayer warrior, interceding for her children, grandchildren, pastors and friends. It was not uncommon for her to be used by the Lord in the gifts of the Spirit in a public worship service. She has left an amazing legacy to her family and friends.
She is survived by her son, Dan (Julie) Schaefer; daughter, Susie (Larry) Batchelor; brother, fiJohn Scott; five grandchildren, Nikki (Mike) Haller, Farrah (Aaron) Leland, Tyler (Jenny) Schaefer, Lindsey (Mike) Corley, and Jordan (April) Schaefer; and nine great-grandchildren.
We would like to thank the staff at Colonial Residence and Silver Acres for their tender and loving care.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at Bethel Church, 132 Kirkland Road, Chehalis.
