Mattie "Naomi" McFarland Caldwell

Mattie Naomi McFarland Caldwell was born December 10, 1935, to her loving parents Grady and Mattie Hollister McFarland in the Enterprise Community near Wills Point, Texas.  She attended the Enterprise School and then transferred to the Wills Point Schools the last five years of her education. She excelled in school and graduated in 1953 having earned the honor of Salutatorian. 

After graduation Naomi moved to Dallas and worked at the First National Bank of Texas. She married her childhood sweetheart Joseph Hollis Caldwell on February 10, 1955, while Joe was still serving in the United States Army. They had two children Larry Michael and Rhonda Denise. In 1978, another daughter was added to the family when Larry Michael married Carol Barragan.

Joe and Naomi raised their family in Grand Prairie.  Having helped care for eight younger brothers and sisters, Naomi was well-prepared to be a loving and caring mother. Joe and Naomi were active in the Congregational Methodist Church in Grand Prairie where they both served and raised their children to have faith in Jesus Christ. Naomi was able to share her faith with them and with many children as she taught children’s church and Sunday school. 

Naomi was a people person who impacted everyone she met with her contagious joy and laughter.  She displayed warmth, kindness, and love to others and gave generously of her time, talents, and gifts. She especially loved children and spent hours making crafts and creating activities to entertain them.  All of her nieces and nephews were the recipients of Aunt Naomi’s loving attention.

Naomi was creative and enjoyed hobbies such as sewing, quilting, and fashioning handcrafts of all kinds. Her mother and she made beautiful quilts to give to all of her siblings, nieces and nephews, and various charities. She was a member of the local quilting guild and taught quilting classes. 

Naomi and Joe modeled a loving marriage and Christian home. They were partners and worked as a team for 64 years.  Upon their retirement, they moved to Wills Point where they pursued many common interests and goals. They worked together planting, tending, harvesting, and preserving bountiful gardens which they generously shared.  Their talents complemented each other in the creation of unique bird houses, colorful fabric pumpkins and snowmen. 

Naomi leaves a legacy of love of God, love of her family, love of her friends, and love of life.  She will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to have known her. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Caldwell, parents, Grady and Mattie McFarland, her brothers Thomas Lee, Grady Lee, Donald Neil and Stephen Douglas, her niece, Lisa Gassiott, her nephew, Kelly Carter, her niece, Marla Carter Jones and great-nephew, Gavin Gassiott.

Naomi is survived by her son Mike (Carol) of Grand Prairie and daughter Rhonda Caldwell of Richardson; brothers Frank McFarland of Bryan, James (Cathie) McFarland of Covington, Louisiana, and Ron (Elizabeth) McFarland of Wills Point; sisters Nell Carter of Wills Point and Joyce (Glenn) Gassiott of Mabank; numerous nieces and nephews and a large extended family.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Naomi’s care givers: Donna Looper, Kim Skinner and Laura Harrison.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mattie "Naomi" McFarland Caldwell, please visit our floral store.