Naomi May Denham

Becky, I'm Dottie Smith and i hope you remember me and my visits to your house to pick up Naomi. I just learned of her passing . I've been thinking s lot about her. She was always a very dear friend of mine. She loved her nieces and nephews - they were her life ! I loved her dearly❤️

I am so sorry to learn of Naomi's passing. I worked with Naomi for many years at Liberty Mutual and she was always a great friend to me. When my husband and I moved to a new home in 1990, Naomi came over and helped me wash the kitchen cabinets; she was always a willing and enthusiastic worker. We had many enjoyable times at Liberty Mutual. She always encouraged me to drink fresh carrot juice! I will never forget Naomi although I had not seen her since her retirement and move back to Tulsa. Look forward to seeing her again in heaven when Jesus comes! Loretta, I have a picture of us at one of Liberty's parties. God bless you all!

Lit a candle in memory of Naomi May Denham

Dear Aunt Nonie, How do they celebrate birthdays in heaven? I know Moms' is coming up on the 15th and since she left for heaven on the 19th, do you celebrate both? I miss you guys so much.

Lit a candle in memory of Naomi May Denham

Missing you again. It's almost Christmas. Hug Moms and Grandad for me. You'd approve of my living room; it looks a lot like your living room apartment in Dallas when you had it and your house in Tulsa now; one closet is definitely an Aunt Nonie closet, all my very important stuff:) kinda like the guest shower was at your apartment in Dallas. Today Denham told me he wanted to make an elevator out of water, so I showed him a youtube of the Panama Canal, if I recall correctly you weren't too enthused with Carter over that one, but after showing Denham how the lock system worked over the canal, he said, "So, how would it be with an island that doesn't need gravity?" As you know, he just turned eight, so I may be in over my head. I am thinking that just maybe, Solomon had such a child as well, because right now wisdom would be what I would ask for too.

Gardening in memory of Naomi May Denham

Dear Aunt Nonie, I miss you so much. I'll never forget your taking me to visit the Alamo when I was fifteen. I don't know if I ever told you how inspirational you were to me. I tell my students how proud I was to be with you at the office and how you cracked that glass ceiling in the early 80s at a time when women were just emerging as leaders in corporate America. I remember how respectfully everyone looked at you at the office, like the boss is here, and they were super nice to me because of you:) I remember you letting me live at your house after I graduated at OU. You even let Belle stay there even though you weren't a dog person. By the way, give her a hug for me in heaven. I remember almost drowning at the apartments in Dallas when I was like 5 or so? and going to your apartment in the summers. I still have the table you gave me that you had in front of the window there but I guess you know that. I am so sorry I didn't visit this summer, I was trying to get through school and I so wanted you to be there for graduation. I would trade my PhD to have some more time with you and I'm so mad at myself for not coming up to Tulsa more. I remember helping you organize "your stuff" a few years ago, before Denham was born. I remember you and Aunt Revie and Uncle Bobby coming to Denham's baby shower. I still have one of the boxes from one of the presents you guys and Sherri and Becky and their group gave me. It was the kind with the lid on it and it had a Peas in the Pod outfit and a Jimmy Garcia outfit (I think) anyway, I covered it in paper and use it at Christmas every and think of all you guys. I remember you and Aunt Revie and Uncle Bobby taking me to lunch for my 25th birthday. It's been a tough semester but I have been decorating my apartment like you had yours in Dallas. I tore my rotator cuff and have to have surgery, so you, and Moms and Grandad say something to the Lord and watch over me. I miss you guys so much. I know you guys are happy up there but it sucks to be down here without you. I guess Moms knows about the dog stealing her cake that Christmas now. I told her it wasn't me. You left me a legacy, Aunt Nonie, about doing what's right and professionalism on the job. I've never forgotten the $75 you loaned me for books and when I paid you back, you sent me another check as a gift because I had done what I said I would do, pay you back when my financial aid came in. I tell my students about that too and about Grandad paying for your mother's burial with the money he had saved to go to college. I'll finish my PhD because I know all the shoulders that I'm standing on and the sacrifices you guys made. You were a woman of great character, strong, witty, and I'll miss you forever. d'Andra Kay PS I'm writing a lot of this in my dissertation, it's a reflexive ethnography so, I'm also including most of the above and the time you saw that guy litter and told him to "Pick that up. Right now!" and he did or when you knocked on the guy's window at the green light and asked him if there was a particular shade of green he was waiting on. Denham reminds me of you. He speaks his mind. The other day this lady was talking to him and asked him if he was five. He looks at her and says assertively, "Really?! I am seven years old not five." Then he looks at me, back at her, respectfully adds, "Ma'am" and shoots her a winning smile. She gave him candy:)