Naoma Lee Crisp Rozelle's Obituary
Naoma Lee Crisp Rozelle was born at home in Dallas on January 27, 1925, the youngest of three children to Joseph Henry Crisp and Maud Anna Stone Crisp. She lived a full life and saw many changes in the world during the 96 years her family was blessed to have her. She was a child of the depression and came of age during the second World War. Like so many of her generation, those experiences taught her strength of character, resilience, frugality, sacrifice and genuine patriotism. To the end our mother loved God, her family, and this country. She always put her children ahead of her own aspirations and worked hard so that her children and her children’s children could have opportunities she could only dream of having.
As a young, divorced mother of 3 children under the age of 6, she went to work at the J.C. Penny Company in Casa View as a salesclerk to support herself and her family. Her sense of style and fashion and hard work allowed her to rise in the company and in a male dominated industry at that time. She believed in giving her best effort in all that she did. She rose from salesclerk to regional manager to fashion buyer for J.C. Penny’s. She was always grateful to the company for the opportunities they gave her. Although unable to attend college herself, she was proud of the fact that she was asked to share her life and business experiences to future business women at the University of Oklahoma and received a standing ovation. At a time when her career was rapidly advancing, she again sacrificed personal ambitions to become a full time care giver to her aging mother and took early retirement from Penny’s. She faithfully cared for her mother at home until our grandmother died at the age of 106.
Mother was active in Roaring Lambs Bible Study, the North Dallas Women’s Club and a proud graduate of Sunset High school. She attended a monthly Sunset lunch group until her final years. Our mother faced adversity in her life and had to work hard just to get by, but she never complained or felt sorry for herself or resented others who had life easier. She took God’s Word to heart “Thou shall not covet”. Whatever life sent her way, she handled with dignity and grace and always did her best. She was happy all her life and often said “Life is Beautiful”. Mother accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and was called home July 25, 2021. We will miss her every day and are so appreciative of the legacy she has given us.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Loreta Crisp Brodie; and her brother, Joseph Crisp Jr. She leaves behind a daughter, Rita Rozelle Dukes and son-in law Jerry Dukes of Evergreen, Colorado; a son, Allen Rozelle and daughter-in-law Margie Rozelle of Allen Texas; and a son, John Rozelle of Richardson, Texas. She was blessed with seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
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