Naomi Housekeeper

Naomi Claire Houskeeper our loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away on December 14, 2021.  Born December 13, 1930, in East Crescent, Utah to Virgil and Teresa Nelson.

Married Glen Charles Dumas on June 25, 1947, in Sandy, Utah. He passed away on May 24, 1978.  Married J Grant Houskeeper on May 2, 1987, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He passed away on August 14, 2007.

She is survived by her children Cardel Dumas (Colorado) Quinn Dumas (Utah) Dolores Hamilton (Lynn) (Utah) Leo Del Dumas (Jeanie) (Georgia) and Gala Dumas (Utah).  The Houskeeper children whom she loved as her own. Craig Houskeeper (Kayleen) (Utah) Lynette Anderson (Steve) (Utah) Connie Houskeeper (Utah) Avery (Lori) (Utah) Jay Houskeeper (California) John Houskeeper (Liz) (Utah) Both families’ grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. Just too too many to list.

Graveside services will be held on Friday December 17, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Elgin Cemetery Green River, Utah.

As the 11th child of 13 growing up on the east bench of the Salt Lake Valley she would pretend to be a fairy. Her Mom and Dad filled their children full of the wonders of the world. Reading the newspaper was standard. Bedtime stories were of Shakespeare, music was a standard as well. And gospel teachings a must. Her family moved to Green River, Utah in the early 40’s. There she experienced a bit of culture shock. But being taught to survive and thrive she did just that. She was called Hollywood because she wore dresses and most times her fiery red hair was in a snood. When Dad saw her for the first time, he decided that she was the one for him. Their first home was a log cabin on the San Rafael Swell (Hatts ranch). But once she became pregnant with Quinn, she insisted they MOVE TO TOWN.

She was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you ever had the chance to have her teach you gospel, you were immediately impressed with her knowledge and the ease she had to involve everyone. You went away knowing that you had learned something new that day. She was uncompromising in her beliefs, and this was one of her most endearing traits.

She spent most of her lifetime working food service in Green River. And boy could she cook up a storm. She and Dad bought the Chow Hound Drive In in the 70’s. It’s safe to say that if you lived in Green River, you just might have worked with or for this grand lady.

She loved roses and always had a large flower garden. She loved painting and was quite good. She loved the theater and music as well. She read the dictionary as a pass time but was a terrible speller. Many a summer was spent in Cedar City, Utah at the Shakespearian Festivals with her daughter and grand kids and the Chow Hound girls.

After Glen passed away, she was able to sell the Chow Hound and move back to Salt Lake City and take care of her aging Mother. That is when she met Grant Houskeeper. What a blessing this quiet but stern man was for her. Together they served an LDS mission in Mississippi and built a log cabin in the Strawberry Pinnacles district of Duchesne County, it was such a labor of love and both families hold dear the time spent there.

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow." Macbeth, Act V, Sc. V

In lieu of flowers the family asks that this spring you plant a rose bush in her honor.