Naomi Ruth Schantz

June 20, 1932 – February 17, 2025

Naomi passed away on February 17th, 2025, in Aurora, Colorado. Naomi was the second child born to David Roy and Pearl Easter Meredith on June 20, 1932, in Denver, CO. She was raised on a farm south of Byers, Colorado. She had a typical country upbringing, lots of animals, extended family nearby, she especially enjoyed playing with her older brother Orville. She went to Byers High School and participated in numerous school activities such as being a cheerleader and attending all the dances; she graduated in 1950.

After high school, Naomi and Orville made a trip to California to visit their Uncle Oren Meredith. It was there she met Richard Meier. Naomi and Richard were married in 1952 and to them was born a son, Gary in 1953. They began their life together and were living in Thornton, CO for a time. A big move was made to New Jersey, but that didn’t last very long. In 1956 they divorced, and she came back to Colorado and continued to raise her son on her own.

In 1958, she began working at Fryer & Stillman (United Meat Packing Company) as a secretary in Denver and there she met Glendon Dale Schantz. They were married in September 1962 and bought a house in Aurora. They dreamt of having children, they adopted a beautiful baby girl, Colette Lee, in 1968. Three years later they adopted a bouncing little boy, Mark Landon, in 1971.

Naomi was a stay-at-home mom and homemaker while the kids were little. Once Colette and Mark started school, she began working outside the home. She held down many different jobs during this time; she counted money at Woolco in Aurora for 16 years, she then began her own coffee service company and had numerous customers, so many that a competitor came calling to buy her business. Naomi moonlighted during the coffee business at Mile High Kennel Club in Commerce City, CO in the back office once again, counting money. Her last job was at Marquest Dental filing the sharp edges of dental picks. She did that for a few years; any that didn’t pass quality control ended up with the family.

Naomi enjoyed many hobbies in her spare time. She was an avid seamstress, making all of Colette’s school clothes until finally Colette asked, “please Mom, can I have a pair of store-bought pants and Nike tennis shoes”. Naomi loved to cook and bake; she won a national cooking competition in California to make something with Hunts spaghetti sauce and she came up with a new recipe…. “ Easy Spaghetti Casserole”. Her prize was a brand-new microwave oven, an apron and bragging rights. Her favorite game show was the “Price Is Right”; she and Colette went to California (more than once) to get on the show. She made their matching t-shirts and with the utmost enthusiasm, they still didn’t make it on the show, but had great fun! She liked gardening, but that came to an end when a massive bull snake paid her a visit in the strawberry patch. Naomi would come back to the farm to ride the combine with Gary, whom she was so proud of for continuing the daily farming that her dad had started. She made a point of not missing a chance to have a mother/son moment in close quarters in the cab of the combine. It was during his time she would pass along all her wisdom to Gary. Gary was (is) known to be a speedster, so she always said to Gary…… “driver pays all tickets”. I’m not so sure that sideways advice was taken to heart. Both Glen and Naomi were very proud of Mark when he graduated from the Marines boot camp, they attended his graduation ceremony. Naomi was very happy and thankful that Mark had honed his skills in the kitchen and would cook them “The Schantz Breakfast” on Sundays, she looked forward to that weekly family meal. She went on a trip of lifetime with Colette, a Trans-Atlantic cruise to Europe. Oh, the adventures and stories she had to tell. This was a learning experience at the age of 80. She and Glen were on a bowling league for years, she enjoyed the daily crossword puzzle in the paper, playing cards with family and friends, and there was always a jig-saw puzzle on the card table in the family-room. Everyone knew not to bother her on Sunday afternoon because her beloved Broncos were playing, and losing, most of the time and she wasn’t going to miss a single moment of any Broncos game. If you called, she didn’t answer the phone and if by chance you were there in person, you better not be talking the entire time.

In 2023, Naomi and Glen sold their home in Aurora and moved into an assisted living facility. They were still in Aurora and still together, (that was the best part), they were soul mates and more in love than ever before. As their health declined, decisions had to be made to move Naomi to a memory care facility. Sparks of her memory would allow her to remember her childhood on the farm, her mom and dad and talking to her brother, Orville. Time is a cruel part of life, if only we could freeze a certain time of our life and live there.

Shortly after her move to memory care, Glen passed away. On the day of his passing, Naomi refused to leave her room, telling staff she had a visitor, and they were talking. Naomi never asked about Glen after this; we believe she knew he was ok, waiting for her.

Naomi had a wonderful family, she is survived by her three children – Gary Meier (Nancy), Colette Schantz DeSonier (Bill) and Mark Schantz; had three grandchildren, Nichole Dick (Jon), Jason Meier (Amanda), Evan Crabdree (deceased); and five great grandchildren – Pearl, Vance, Wyatt, Emery, Virgil and many nieces and nephews.

Naomi is proceeded in death by her first husband - Richard Meier; her husband of 62 years - Glendon Schantz; her parents – David Roy and Pearl and stepmother – Altha; her brother - Orville; and her grandson - Evan.

Naomi had 92 years that were packed full of love, adventures, family and friendships!! A life well lived and she will be missed by many!

A visitation for Naomi will be held Thursday, February 27, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Advantage Aurora Chase Chapel, 1095 Havana Street, Aurora, CO 80010. Following the visitation will be a private family graveside from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Byers Cemetery, S Owens St, Byers, CO 80103.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Naomi's memory may be made to Byers Cemetery Association , P.O. Box 733, Byers, Colorado 80103 US.