Naomi Ruth Jones

 Naomi Ruth Jones, 86, passed away on Dec. 14, 2009 at Crista Nursing Center. She was born in Seattle on Aug. 15, 1923, the daughter of Matzie and August Hinterberger.  She met her best friend Verna in 3rd grade, they went through the depression together, were bride’s maids at each other’s weddings, and remained friends for life.  A graduate of Roosevelt HS Naomi went on to Burnley School of Art.  But, due to WWII she joined the Army Corps of Engineers as a draftsman.  Naomi was a USO Girl during the war and met Matthew Jones at a USO dance.  He was so smitten with her at their first dance that he said, “I’m going to marry you” and she laughed.  They married after the war in 1946 and had three children: Tim in 1949, Nancy in 1951, and Gary in 1953.

   She was very interested in fitness and the outdoors.  Many outings on the boat, clam digging, and fishing filled their days as a young family.  Later the family took up hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering in the nearby Olympics and Cascades.  “Naomi was a terrific hiker,” family friend Marilyn Benedict wrote in her hiking log.  In the 1960’s backpacking mothers in the wilderness were a rarity.

   She balanced family with working, employed as an architectural draftsman until retirement.  This was before CAD and she was known for her beautiful drawings, hand lettering, and lovely renderings in water colors with pen and ink.  Her art talent shined through in her work and in her daily appearance, as she was always so tastefully dressed.

  In her retirement she loved gardening and her garden clubs, golfing group, the Golden Gliders (XC skiing), and the Happy Hikers.  Family and friends were most important to her and she dearly loved time shared with each and every one of them.  She is survived by her husband of 63 years Marion Matthew Jones, Shoreline, her son Gary Jones, Maureen, and grandson Elliot of Shoreline, her daughter Nancy Gehrke and John of Anacortes, and her son Tim Jones and Nancy Dionne of Salmon, Idaho.  Her spirit will be with us always.

Please sign Naomi’s guestbook at www.asacredmoment.com.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crista Nursing Center: www.cristaseniors.org

A memorial service is planned for Wednesday, December 30th at 1pm at the Chapel at Evergreen Washelli, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133.