Naomi Ruth Finney

Naomi Ruth Finney, 89, passed away Thursday, February 22, 2024 at The Sunflower Care Home in Emporia.

She was born June 24, 1934 in Greenwood County the daughter of James Olen and Ruth Inez McNett Mackey.  As a child, Naomi grew up on the family farm N.W. of Madison and attended a one room schoolhouse just down the road.

She was joined in marriage to John Alfred Finney on June 13, 1953 in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Their first home was in Madison before settling North of town in Southern Lyon County.

During the earlier years of marriage, Naomi drove a Madison school bus. Later on she took a position at Dolly Madison which spanned over 18 years until she semi-retired. After leaving Dolly Madison she worked at a laundry on East Street in Emporia.  Naomi also cleaned apartments in the Emporia area. One of the joys she found in life was basking in the great outdoors and playing bingo as often as she could.

Following the death of her husband John on October 24, 1992, Naomi lived in Emporia until moving to her current home in Olpe eleven years ago.  She attended the Olpe United Methodist Church later in life but grew up attending the First Christian Church in Madison.

She is survived by their children; Robert Eugene Finney of Olpe, Chris Finney of Emporia, Glenda Carroll of Montana, Ethel Renfro of Columbus, Indiana and Mary Hale of Americus; eleven grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren. She will live on in the hearts and memories of her family and friends.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Ruth; a sister LaVeda Benton; brothers, Bob Mackey, Larry Mackey and Jerry Mackey as well as a lifelong partner Walter Rathke.

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the VanArsdale Funeral Home, 202 W. Main Street, Madison, Kansas 66860. Burial will follow services at Blakely Cemetery.  The family will receive friends an hour prior to services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagle Creek Saddle Club and sent in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box #488. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.