Neoma June Elliott

Neoma June Elliott, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 2, 2025, surrounded by her loving family after bravely enduring several months of acute health challenges.

 Neoma was born on November 30, 1938, on her family’s farm southwest of Perry, the second daughter of Clarence and Bertha Passow. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church, where she remained an active and dedicated member throughout her life. A lover of sports, she played basketball in high school and graduated from Sumner High School in 1956. She fondly reminisced about her senior trip to New York City and Niagara Falls, a cherished adventure she spoke of often.

 Following graduation, Neoma attended business college in Oklahoma City, living at the YWCA. It was during this time that she met Paul Petersen at an Air Force mixer at Tinker Air Force Base. They married on her birthday in 1958 raising three children: Vickie, Brian, and Brenda. In 1991, they opened Pete’s Place – The One Stop Lake Shop at Sooner Lake, a business they ran together with great dedication.

 Neoma began her career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1979 and retired in 2009 after 30 years of service. Over the years, she also handled bookkeeping for several trucking companies, showcasing her strong work ethic.

 After 35 years of marriage, Paul passed away in 1993. Later that year, Neoma married her second husband, Danny Elliott. With their marriage, she gained two stepchildren, Dylan and Angyl. Together, Neoma and Danny continued operating Pete’s Place until they sold the business in 2007. They then moved to Perry, into her mother’s former home, where she spent her remaining years.

 Neoma loved flowers and gardening, she always had a vase of fresh flowers in her kitchen, luckily she has a florist for a daughter. she was a talented seamstress, she took great pride in creating her daughter Vickie’s wedding dress by hand. The highlights of her life were her children, grand children and great grand children. She looked forward to her daily phone conversations with her daughter Brenda as she “picked her up for the ride home”. She was an avid fan of Lawrence Welk, game shows, the OKC Thunder, the OSU Cowboys, and Oklahoma Sooners, and televised church programs. One of her most cherished possessions was a handmade patchwork lap quilt made with love by quilters for Christ. It was given to her in 2017 and has this bible verse Philippians 420 to our God and father be glory forever and ever. This quilt was used by her daily and taken with her to every hospital visit where it was a great conversation starter and admired by many.

 Neoma was a fighter. She faced significant health challenges, enduring multiple leg surgeries and overcoming countless obstacles with unwavering strength and faith. As she reached the end of her journey, she exemplified the words of 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

 She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Bertha Passow; her sister, Charlotte Byrd; her husbands, Paul Petersen and Danny Elliott; and her stepdaughter, Angyl Elliott.

 Neoma is survived by her children: Vickie (Lee) Malget, Brenda (Larry) Baker, and Brian (Yuanxia) Petersen; stepson Dylan Elliott; grandchildren: Madison (Landon) Wright, Morgan Malget, Kaylee, Kohl, Kyla and Gabriel Elliott, Tassi, Sabryn, Brennan, Kycen Petersen, Zihao (Tony) Tang, .Ted, Josh and Alexandria Baker, and Zihao (Tony) Tang; and six great-grandchildren: Lily, Adam, Josie and Molly Baker, Gi’Sella and Ja’Leon Petersen and extended family members and beloved friends.

 A viewing will be held on Tuesday, February 4th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home in Perry with family greeting guest from 5pm to 7pm. A funeral service will take place on Wednesday, February 5, at 2:00 PM at Christ Lutheran Church in Perry, followed by interment at Grace Hill Cemetery.

 In honor of Neoma’s memory, memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association.

 Neoma’s leaves behind a legacy of resilience and devotion that will be cherished forever.