Naomi (McCock) Harris was born to Cyril and Elizabeth (Hough) McCock on Aug. 25, 1947, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She attended Collegiate Junior School for Girls and graduated from Pearson High School in 1964.
She married the love of her life, Adrian Harris, in January 1969, and together they raised three daughters. Naomi was a stay-at-home mom with her girls. She loved music, singing and dancing. While still in South Africa, Naomi participated as a member of the chorus in one musical every year with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society.
The family moved to Crete in March 1983 and to Lincoln 20 years later. In the mid 1980s, Naomi worked at the Attic Window in Crete, indulging her love of handcrafted items, which she carried throughout her life. In the late 1980s and through most of the 1990s, Naomi worked at Doane College Bookstore, and was known and loved by many as “Naomi in the Bookstore.” She left the bookstore to spend more time with her family. In the early 2000s, she worked at Union Bank in Lincoln.
Naomi was an active member of P.E.O, a women’s organization whose mission is to help provide funding for education to women through grants, awards and scholarships. She was initiated into the CM Chapter in Crete and transferred her membership to the Lincoln FW Chapter when she moved to Lincoln.
Naomi was an active member of Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church in Crete, and after moving to Lincoln, attended St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church until her declining health made it impossible to do so. In her spare time, Naomi loved to read. She was an advocate of literacy and served for a number of years on the Library Advisory Board for the Crete Public Library in the 1990s. Naomi was also a wonderful baker. She especially enjoyed making her mince pies every Christmas, which she gave to friends and family members as holiday gifts.
Naomi was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2005 but bravely continued working until her retirement in 2012. She and Adrian continued to travel to visit their families as long as she was able.
Naomi and Adrian moved to The Legacy in 2016, and Naomi later moved to Southlake Village in October 2019. COVID was a very difficult time for her and Adrian, as they were unable to see each other in person for several months. After restrictions were lifted, Adrian visited her almost every afternoon, bringing treats to share, and often the crossword puzzle for them to do together.
She died peacefully in the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022.
She is survived by her loving husband Adrian; her daughters, Diane (Ross), Barbara (Tim) and Jillian (Jason); and three grandchildren, Owen, Conor and Andrew; as well as her sister, Ruth, and extended family around the world.
Naomi’s family would like to thank the staff and administrators of The Legacy, Southlake Village and HoriSun Hospice for their excellent care of Naomi over the past few years, and especially over the past four months that she spent in hospice care.
A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Lincoln. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society and/or the Crete Public Library. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.kunclfh.com.
