Naomi K. Harris (Mom, Grandma, Grandma-Great, Grandma Naomi) passed away on September 20, 2017, on her 98th birthday at Care Partners Assisted Living, Eau Claire. Naomi made the world a better place. She will live on through all the lives she touched. Naomi was born on September 20, 1919, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Mattie Bertha Rawlings and John Augustus Kimball. She had a twin sister, Ruthie, another sister, Marion, and three brothers, John, Paul and Jimmy. Naomi grew up in Sewarren, New Jersey, and graduated from Woodbridge High School in 1938. She moved to Brooklyn, New York, where she met her husband, Dr. Maurice Daniel Harris. They married on July 15, 1942. They had two children, Ruth Ellen and Robert Edmund, who were her pride and joy. They then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1953. Naomi attended Alverno College where she graduated with an Associate's Degree in Child Development. Naomi was mom who focused her love, time and care on her children. After her husband's death, she moved to Eau Claire, WI, where her daughter, Ruth, lived. She worked at the Kangaroo Pouch, took classes at the University of Minnesota, and in 1981 became a Foster Grandparent, serving for 30 years. Naomi has been recognized for her devotion to children, receiving numerous local and national awards. She was acknowledged by President and Nancy Reagan for her volunteer work and awarded the "Daily Point of Light Award" from President George H. W. Bush in 2001. In 2005, she was given the "Presidents Volunteer Service Award" from George W. Bush. During the same year, Naomi received the Ageless Heroes Award, and the Eugene I Lehrmann Award for Intergenerational Advocacy by the Coalition of WI Aging Groups (CWAG) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of WI. In 2009, Naomi was awarded the Children's Legacy Award. Naomi is most proud of her awards for 30 years of service in Head Start and CESA #10 Foster Grandparent Program. Naomi was a Foster Grandparent at Lincoln, Randall, Roosevelt, Robbins, Locust Lane, Lowes Creek, Arlington, and North High School. Naomi loved gardening and her green thumb nurtured beautiful flowers. She especially loved zinnias, snapdragons, marigolds, daisies, and daffodils. She also grew wonderful perennials, including prolific snowballs. Her "circles of wax begonias" in the front yard, surrounded by stepping stones with every family member's name were her pride. Naomi loved to cook and bake. She was famous for her apple and pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving and her stamped short bread cookies for Christmas. Naomi loved to camp, first in a canvas tent starting in Kettle Morraine State Park, then in a camper and finally in a Winnebago LeSharo. Her favorite place to vacation was Door County, with the fish boils and the goats on the roof at Al Johnson's in Sister Bay. She had a special rock at Peninsula State Park that she sat on and gazed at Green Bay. Naomi was active and rode her bike on nine mile trips at 89! Naomi loved her home of 45 years in Eau Claire – "Gessner" on Gessner Rd, built in 1888. She hosted many family holidays and events there and entertained her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Whether on the front porch swing or the side porch glider, she enjoyed the peace and serenity of the home she so painstakingly decorated with mementos, pictures and collections. Her whimsical arrangements were heartwarming. The grounds surrounding the house were lush with her gardening accomplishments. She loved the 100 year old flowering crab apple tree in the front yard and the 100 year old cottonwood tree in the back yard with the sign "The Clearing" next to Tricia's (a flat coated retriever) kennel. Naomi would like to be remembered as a loving, loyal, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who stood up for fairness and justice. Naomi is survived by her children, Ruth (Roland Mead) Harris and Robert (Tamara) Harris; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and foster grandchildren. Naomi's family would like to thank the staff at Care Partners Assisted Living for their loving and competent care. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, at the WEST CHAPEL location of Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 1405 N. Clairemont Ave, Eau Claire. Visitation will be from 9:00am to 11:00am at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Forest Hill Cemetery, Eau Claire. To express online condolences, please visit www.lenmarkfh.com

Service Information

Visitation

Tuesday, September 26 2017 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Lenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral & Cremation Services West Chapel 1405 North Clairemont Avenue Eau Claire WI 54703

Funeral Service

Tuesday, September 26 2017 11:00 AM

Lenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral & Cremation Services West Chapel 1405 North Clairemont Avenue Eau Claire WI 54703