Memorial
Naomi “Aunt Nomy” Johnson Thompson passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2024, in Cedar Rapids surrounded by her loving family. Visitation, Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 10:00 am until the 11:00 am Funeral Service at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories in Cedar Rapids, IA. Interment will be private.
She was born December 13, 1936, in Ottumwa, IA to Hursell and Opal (Bailey) McCall. Naomi went to school at Ottumwa High School in Ottumwa, IA. After graduating from OHS, she moved to Kankakee, IL and attended Olivet Nazarene College where she met and married Robert (Bob) Terrell. After her loving husband, Bob, unexpectedly passed away, she moved temporarily to Davenport, IA, living with her sister (Eleanor) and brother ‘n law (Orville). There, at Sawyer Business College, she received a degree in Accounting Management, which secured her employment at Peterbilt.
Years later Naomi moved to Olathe, KS and received a secretarial position at Nazarene College. Years later she was promoted to a secretarial position in Supulpa, OK. Here Naomi worked for a sign company and attended the Nazarene church. She later met and married Leslie Johnson. Uncle Les was a wonderful gentleman, full of love of God and somewhat of a jokester. He fit right into our family! Sadly, Uncle Les passed away later from a terminal illness. He is missed dearly.
Her family, church and devout love of God were the most important things in her life, other than coffee, ice cream and shoes. Naomi was a member and on the church board at the First Church of the Nazarene in Cedar Rapids, IA and also a member of the Mt. Olive Church in Adrian, GA. She loved singing hymns, was a choir member and very often a soloist. She was very talented and would often recite her version of “Rindercella” (Cinderella) to the delight of the audience and anyone she would meet! It was at this church in Adrian that Naomi married James Thompson. He was a devout Christian and read the bible daily. Many members of his family lived in / around Adrian and Aunt Nomy made many new friends. It was very difficult for his family and Aunt Nomy when he passed suddenly.
As Aunt Nomy mourned and aged, she wished to return to Cedar Rapids, IA, where her nieces and nephews in Iowa could take loving care of their dear Aunt Nomy while enjoying her companionship. God has a plan. Her family of nieces and nephews are Janice (Bob) Jamison, Joyce (Kim) Harban, Mike (Kathy) Thomas and Curtis (Maggie) Thomas (all in the Cedar Rapids, IA area). There are many more nieces and nephews (with great and great-great nieces and nephews) across the USA who loved and cherished her! You may wonder how she got her name from Naomi to Nomy. Little 2 year old Janice tried and tried, but couldn’t pronounce Naomi…so she became Aunt Nomy.
Although Aunt Nomy and Uncle Bob were unable to bear children, they adored all of their nieces and nephews and spent most of their free time with them, much to the blessing of Aunt Nomy’s sister and brothers. Summers were spent camping with them around the USA and staying at their home. The stories that are remembered and told could fill a book.