Naomi Nadine Barker Mitchell

Naomi Nadine Barker Mitchell Just A Gypsy... A life lived doing it ‘her way’! It is with heavy hearts we say goodbye to Naomi who was born Oct.3, 1933 to ‘Bill’ & Jean Barker in Fort Lewis, Washington and died April 13, 2021 in Port Townsend, Washington. Married 30 years to Walter J. Mitchell; loving husband, first love, & forevermore adversarial friend. She is survived by her dear friend and long time companion, Ted Gates. Both were fortuitous in finding each other. Loved & loving daughter, big sister to Diane Barker Martinez, amused & proud mom to Kathy Mitchell, Chuck(Kimberly)Mitchell, overjoyed Nana to Carson(Talie), Haley (Yobani), Kyle & Jillian, daughter-in-law Kitty, Aunt, Sister-in-law and great friend to many long time kindred spirits (you know who you are and we thank you for being there for her). Mom/Naomi was an army brat, published author: ‘On The Way To The War’ about her family history at the end of WWII, published photographer: calendars, postcards, greeting cards & juried shows, traveler of the world, bibliophile (yes, we have 10+ boxes of her books to go through!), loved, and finally, lived her last years near the sights, sounds and smells of the ocean, loved fresh baked sourdough bread, iced chocolate brownies, loved roses and lavender, spelled everything for our immediate family (before online dictionaries(!) as the rest of us did not get that gene), WWII researcher & aficionado, watercolor dabbler, card sender extraordinaire and had the most amazing bookmark collection from around the world. Even though mostly bed-bound her last 5 years she continually found new goals, interests and challenges to keep her days filled. She was always so appreciative of the calls, letters, cards, and gifts that were sent to her to brighten up her days in her very small world of one room. Naomi always spoke her mind, even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear! She didn’t apologize for her views of the world. You got the true Naomi when she spoke with you: and she always had your back or offered a laugh! Being born into an army family put its stamp on her entire life. The family followed her Army dad around the country and abroad many times during the years leading up to and during WWII. She lived as far way as The Phillippines in 1946 and around the country as America geared up for and lived through a world war. She wrote about these years in her published book: On The Way To The War (available on Amazon.com). Naomi finished her high school years in the Bay Area of California, met her husband, Walter “Mitch” Mitchell, eloped to Reno, Nevada to be married on Nov. 3, 1953. They raised Kathy & Chuck in California starting in Santa Ana, then Bellflower, before moving up to Redding after a horrific near-fatal speed boat that ran her over while we were water skiing near Lake Elsinore. The town of Redding was chosen because it was far from the crowded area of southern California and we had become quite attached to Shasta Lake for our family summer vacations. Naomi worked many jobs in her life until she found her calling as a Paralegal. She also got her notary papers, participated in a sorority, started a new sorority, wrote for one of her employers company news letters, gave seminars on legal matters, Blue Bird leader, family genealogy researcher who ended up finding half brothers, aunts and uncles we all didn’t know about! She also encouraged her kids to try as many activities as they were interested in during the school years. Naomi was, if nothing else, a very strong, at the forefront, feminist and take charge woman. Whether it was living her “gypsy” moving lifestyle (her son moved her no less than 10 times!) traveling the world on her own, writing yearly two page typed ‘Naomi goal’ letters to her kids ( that we were to comment on, critique or suggest new goals for her) or re-learning how to walk after her boating accident; she was always re-inventing herself to meet the changes presented with each adventure in her very interesting life journey. Her adventures continued with Ted, who showed her new chapters in her 20 years in Port Townsend. She got to know her grandkids, travel to her daughter’s home in Canada and celebrate her very special 80th birthday with all of her family & friends. Naomi will be fondly remembered & dearly missed for her great enthusiasm for family, friends, her great debates, shared hobbies with the grandkids, and her laugh that just tickled you to see and hear. Online condolences and your stories of Naomi would be greatly appreciated here or at www.kosecfh.com.