Lillian Naomi Jacob age 80

Lillian Naomi Jacob age 80, of Forest City, passed away on December 15, 2017.

Lillian was the wife of Brennan L. Jacob, and the daughter of the late Alva Oral Willey, and Minnie Opal Ward Willey. Left to cherish her memory are her children Norman Laurence Jacob, and Terry Warren Jacob.

Naomi was born in the tiny town of Shelbina MO, where she lived until the family moved to Quincy, Ill, when she was in High School. She lived there with her family while she attended Culver Stockton College. When she married, they moved to Chicago, Ill, and she worked as a secretary at a trucking company. When her husband was discharged from the Army, they moved to an apartment in Oak Park, Ill, a Chicago suburb where she clerked at the Marshall Field Store in Oak Park. Children arrived, a house was located, still in Oak Park and she became a housewife, working only part-time at Marshall Field's. She moved to Boca Raton, Florida, when her husband was transferred there with IBM. She quickly found part time work as a clerk in Britts Department Store, later at First Bank as a teller. In 1970 she became a teller for Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, and progressed through several departments - manager of Telephone Billing then as acting manager of FAU Payroll Department for nearly ten years. Tiring of the stress and pressure, she moved to a secretarial position in the Building Grounds department until she retired with 22 years service in 1999. She was immediately hired back to train the replacement for her replacement and she stayed on for almost five more years. Travel became possible: she and her husband travel the US, many summers (Florida summers are hot!), visiting their friends and relatives from east coast to west.

As her children became reluctant to visit Florida, they bought a home in Forest City in 2011, selling the home in Boca in 2016, traveling to and from between times. She was talented with needle and thread, making dozens of beautiful quilts and wall hangings, giving many away as baby shower gifts or as gifts to wounded warriors (the Quilts of Valor national organization). An excellent cook, her recipes have appeared in many church cookbooks. A loving, caring person, she had many friends all over the US who enjoyed her company and her laughter. We will miss her dearly.

A memorial service was held at The First United Methodist Church Forest City, w/Dr. Neil Haynes officiating.

Arrangements are provided by Crowe's Mortuary.