Neoma Wiggins, 97, a longtime resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, June 14, 2015.
She was born on May 30, 1918 in Andrews, North Carolina, one of twelve children of Doc & Bessie (Clayton) Ensley.
She was raised and made her home in Andrews, NC until April 29, 1938; the day that she was united in marriage to Henry Wiggins. They were married in Blairsville, Georgia and together they made their home and started their family in Bryson City, NC.
In 1950 they moved to the Skagit Valley, settling in the Hamilton area. They also made their home in Oregon & California as Henry followed work in construction. They returned to Hamilton in the mid 1960’s, finally settling in Sedro-Woolley in 1976.
Neoma was an avid quilt maker, making hundreds of quilts for family, friends, churches, hospitals and guilds, donating them to whomever were in need. She also enjoyed gardening, traveling, and watching western movies.
Neoma is survived by her children and their spouses, Dorothy & Don Latting of Concrete, Mildred & Chuck Hodgin of Sedro-Woolley, Florence & Don Kemp and Mamie & Alton Wilson of Grants Pass, OR, John & Donalda Wiggins of Mount Vernon and Bill & Marilyn Wiggins of Sedro-Woolley. 50 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, 29 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Henry; daughter, Nellie Wiggins; son & daughter-in-law, Don & Ruth Wiggins; 11 siblings and 3 grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 1:00 pm at the Valley Baptist Church in Sedro-Woolley. Interment will be at the Hamilton Cemetery followed by a time of fellowship at the church. The family requests that memorials in honor of Neoma be made to the Valley Baptist Church.
Dear Jimmy, Dorothy, and Mildred,
So sorry for your loss. Jimmy I know how special she was to you.
Dorothy and Mildred the loss of your mother is so heartbreaking but you know you will see her again.
Please know my prayers are with you and your families at this time.
With Deepest Sympathy,
Portia Jauron
Sedro Woolley
to all/ so sorry about your lose. we know how much she meant to you all love you dorch/ love bunny
we are so sorry to here about your lose she meant the world to you and many more, do hope you know how much you all mean to me love ya dorch bunny
What a wonderful lady. She made such lovely blankets and sitting in her living room watching the squirels outside her window. Ask hows things, she would say just wonderful. She will be missed. God bless
Neoma was the sweetest woman I have ever known I loved her and her smile she is smiling at Jesus now.My prayers are with all her family.
When I think of Granny I think of Amazing Grace, because of the countless times I heard her sing it, the way she showed and taught us all to have forgiveness for ourselves and others. But mostly I think of it reminds me of her because of the way she shared Gods love for us with everyone she meet. If there was an ear that would listen and most of the time if u didn’t care to hear it. She was going to tell you that God loves you no matter what! If there was anything Granny lived more than her family it was of no doubt God.
My childhood is filled with Sunday afternoons at her house after church. Being quizzed on what I had learned and my memory verses by her and Grandad. Followed by being told why it was so important I remember these lessons and verses and hold them dear to my heart. After which Grandad was sure to speak and show me more verses that I either did not recall or had been told in that Sunday’s lessons. As any child I would listen for a little while than try and work my way out. But if Granny would never let me go out till she gave me some type of food first.
It always brought me great joy to see her and listen to her and as I grew up I realized how precious that time was and have yearned for my children to have that time as I did. My heart breaks for my loss. But rejoices that she is now with our Father in heaven and others we have lost.
My heart is forever changed because of the love, devotion, and God fearing woman Granny. Without her examples non of us would be who we are today.
I love you Granny!
Love, Sondra
If you had a chance to meet our Grandmother (Neoma), you would realize that you just met one of the strongest Women on the planet. She over came so many obstacles in her life and continued to have strength and courage. She was a woman of great faith and shared her love for God with anyone who would lend an ear. She was a prayer warrior, and a constant reminder of how strong a family should be, even in our darkest days.
My Grandmother loved birthday parties with cake and ice Cream, She adored little children, babies and the silliness of any adult making her laugh. She loved the sound of Mountain Hymns and she could sing old appalacian songs with a voice so haunting it could make goosebumps and would cause anyone to turn their head and pay close attention. She was proud of her Family her Children, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren with so many Nieces and Nephews. She also took on others that were not her blood relation, but considered them her Children as well.
One thing I loved about Grandma, is she didn’t like her family to talk bad or talk down to anyone. She would always find the good in anyone, no matter what that person did.. She would always say something like “Well, Poor thing, you don’t know what that person went through in their life to make them that way honey”
I would just say ” I know Grandma” and leave it alone. Thinking back, that was amazing for my grandma to think like that.
I’ve always said there should be a book or a Movie written about my Grandma’s life, because her life was so interesting. To think of all the “first” she witnessed in her 97 years. The first TV, cell phone, in door toliet, man on the moon, just to name a few.
Family was so very important to my Grandma and she loved each of us unconditionally. I thought I would share one of my memories I have of Grandma:
When I was 14 years old, I had a horse boarded over by the Valley Baptist Church. Grandma and Grandpa were on their way to church, and as they were turning into the church parking lot she spotted me on the road riding my horse. She rolled down her window and waved me over to their vehicle. I was always glad to see them, so I rode over to them and got off my horse and said hello talking for a minute when she said, “You’re gonna go to church with me today!” I was like, Oh no I’m not!, …. I was surprised and taken off guard by the fact that I had been riding bareback, had horse hair and dirt all over my bottom and smelled like a horse. She kept insisting I go into the church with her. I tried to argue my way out of it, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. So after realizing she wasnt going to give up the fight. I tied my horse to their vehicle and with my heels dug into the ground she dragged me into that Sunday Service all dirty and smelling like a horse. I will never forget that day! She smiled and sang Hymns beside me while I stood there sulking. It never bothered her one bit to have her grandaughter sitting next to her like that. I actually think she got a lot of joy out of that win! I must add, I can’t remember who else was in that pew, but I know I stunk, and there was a stinch. 🙂
So family and faith were both very important to my Grandma.
I would like to think that anyone that had the pleasure of meeting my Grandma, took a life lesson taught by her. and I would bet they became a better person because of it. I know she shared plently of them with our family, and I know I’m a better person because of it.
Mindy
Mom was a teacher of life, and that is way I’m the person I am today. Mom will forever be with us in our hearts and mines.
Mom when I think of you I think of ‘HANDS’, because thru the years your hands did so much . You always used your hands for the good of your children. many of those years
were spent on me. From the time I can remember, you were always busy from daylight until dark. You scrubbed our clothes,,cooked, chopped and carried wood and water. You were always the first one up in the morning, and the last one to bed at night. you would put those ‘Hands’ together get down on your knees and pray for your family. The seed was planted about the Lord when I was very young. you made a garden, milked the cow, canned 100s of cans of food. Thru all the hard times you never lost your faith in God. You would brush our hair back from our faces when we were sick, and rock us and sing to us. You were the glue that held our family together You just loved us no matter what!! God has a special place for mothers like you and you are there strolling across heaven. Thank you mom for your caring hands and loving heart. Dorothy
Love you grandma, you will always be with me and forever a part of who I am!
I am so sorry for your loss. May the ‘God of all comfort’ be with you and your family during this difficult time. At 1 Corinthians 15:26 the Bible promises that very soon ‘death will be brought to nothing’. Then, we have the prospect of being reunited with our loved ones right here on this earth{John 5:28,29}. I truly hope this has brought you comfort and hope. With deepest sympathies, Gracin and family.
Now. When ever I Go back to. Sedro. Woolley. To. Visit. ”. I. Usually make. My. First. Stop. Grandma,s. House. Now. My grandma. Is not. There. Anymore I. Love. You. An. Really. Going. to. Miss. You. I’ll. never. Forget. Driving. You. And grandpa. To. Bryson. City. Not. Only. Once. But. Twice. Say hi. To. Grandpa. And little. Mitch. For. Me. Love. Rip. Mitch
shes in the arms of the angels will miss u grandma always in my heart………………..love you
This wonderful woman held our family together . There could not have been a better mother to all of us. We will miss her so much, her good cooking, her laughter and most of all her prayers. She is rejoicing in heaven with her family Love you mom.
Always had a positive attitude towards life . Loved to hear her. Sing .