Naomi Lavonne Spear

Naomi Lavonne (Dear) Spear of Gig Harbor passed away at Tacoma General Hospital April 3. She was born Nov. 27, 1948, in Massillon, Ohio, to the Rev. Roy and Alice Dear.

Naomi graduated from Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri, in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and began her career teaching high school in Willard, Ohio. In 1977, she visited Oahu, Hawaii, and decided to stay, continuing to teach high school English. While in Hawaii, Naomi married Fred Paladino. In 1981, the couple was transferred by the U.S. Air Force to Fairchild AFB, Spokane. They divorced in 1982.

In 1985, Naomi met Jim Spear. She earned her Master of Arts in Education in 1990 from Eastern Washington University in Cheney and married Jim the following year. She continued to teach high school English in the Spokane area until she and Jim moved to Key Center. 

Naomi taught English and alternative education at Bremerton High School. She found her true calling in the alternative education system helping students to glimpse and “go for” their dreams and realize their individual worth. She retired in 2014.

She loved all animals, especially cats, and could always be counted on to take in and nurture strays that needed help. She also loved gardening; their beautiful home overlooking Carr Inlet and Glen Cove was awash in colorful roses and other flowers and plants. She was always happy to share her botanical and zoological knowledge with anyone with questions or problems.

Naomi was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister and brother-in-law, Faith and the Rev. James Bryon from Akron, Ohio.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; her brother, the Rev. Paul (Norma) Dear; nieces and nephews Debbie Dear, Steve (Holli) Dear, Rhoda Bryan, Sylvia (Christopher) Long; and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Naomi will be missed by all that knew her. A celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. at the Miller-Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel in Bremerton.