Esther Naomi VanWoert died on Nov. 5, 2007 at North Valley Long Term Care Facility, she was 92.

Naomi was born on Jan. 21, 1915 in Beansville, Ontario to parents Elmer and Bessie Juday. She came to Washington with her parents at a young age, first to Wenatchee and later to Oroville where her father was a minister and orchardist. After graduating from high school in Oroville, Naomi spent four years working to finance a year of college at Washington State College. During the following summer she met and married Roy J. VanWoert on Oct. 31, 1936. This union produced five children, two that preceded her in death. Naomi lived her married life and beyond on the family farm outside of Tonasket. She lived there independent until June of this year.

Naomi was a gregarious person, enjoying her involvement with 4-H, Grange, Eastern Star, the Women’s Wednesday Club and later in life, the Senior Citizens. She worked for many years at Smith and Nelson Packing Shed until her retirement in 1993 to care for a sick granddaughter. Naomi converted her photography hobby into a small business where for many years she took photos for weddings, birthdays, family gatherings and for many years teamed with Santa Clause to take pictures of kids in the community. People continued to approach Naomi until the day she died thanking her for the wedding and family pictures she had taken through the years.

She is survived by her daughters, Betty Jo (Bob) Hagman of Priest River, Idaho and Joy (Mike) Krumvieda of Sisters, Ore.; her son, Duane (Donita) of Tonasket; sisters, Helen (Blaine) Turner of Moses Lake and Kathleen England of Seattle; five grandchildren, four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Naomi was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one brother, one sister, two children and one grandchild.

Services were held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Bergh Chapel in Oroville, Pastor Rod Brown officiating. Internment followed at the Oroville Riverview Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Tonasket Senior Center.

Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville/Tonasket in care of arrangements.