Naomi Patterson passed away on October 17, 2012 in Topeka, KS at the age of 78. She was born in Lisbon, Ohio, to Ralph and Helen Shive Bruey, both deceased.
She married Tom W. Patterson in 1961; they divorced in 1999. Naomi is survived by her children, David Patterson of Oak Park, Illinois and Carol Baldwin of Tecumseh, KS, as well as by her brothers, Fred Bruey of Jackson, MI, Ron Bruey of Cornelius, NC and David Bruey of East Troy, WI.
She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in clinical psychology in Ohio and her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. She worked primarily with children, at first in Fort Collins, CO and in Topeka beginning in 1971, where she was employed by the Shawnee County Health Center, The Topeka Psychiatric Center, and Pediatrics P.A. She also offered parent training workshops for thirty years in addition to child-parent counseling.
Naomi was an accomplished writer and poet. She began writing columns for The Topeka Capital Journal in 1997; her last column on the topic of death appeared only a few weeks ago. She published three books of poetry and won numerous prizes for prose and poetry in both state and national competitions. In 2005 she was awarded a fellowship by the Kansas Arts Commission. She was also a volunteer writing teacher at the Topeka Lutheran School. Always artistic and creative, Naomi was known as well for her work in stained glass and her appearances as an amateur magician.
Naomi was a member of the First Congregational Church, the Kansas Authors Club, American Pen Women and the Minerva Club. She was also a former member of Sam's Club.
Naomi will be cremated by Penwell-Gabel. The date and time of her memorial service will be announced in the near future.
In lieu of memorial contributions, Naomi asked that friends surprise someone with a bouquet or single flower in her memory.