Aloha Joan (Hie) Naughton

MESA, Ariz. - Aloha Joan (Hie) Naughton, 75, passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2008, at her home in Mesa, Ariz.

Aloha was born March 4, 1933, in San Diego. Along with her mother and brother, she moved to Texas to be near her mother's family while her father was at sea during World War II. The family relocated to Napa after the war.

As a member of the Napa High School class of 1951, she was a drum majorette and played saxophone in the marching band. She was also active in the school newspaper  — a highlight was interviewing Stan Kenton. Though she moved away not long after graduation, Aloha frequently returned to visit family and friends, and always considered Napa her hometown.  

After retirement from a career in banking where she was an assistant vice president for Wells Fargo Bank, she lived in Cave Junction, Ore. Aloha took great pleasure in improving the property with flowers and gardens, and it was there she finally got her gazebo. She moved back to Napa in 1996, where she thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, particularly "the girls" from the class of '51, and then to Mesa, Ariz. in 2003.

Aloha was an avid reader and an active person who was always ready for new challenges. She enjoyed swimming, gardening, and hiking, and took up downhill skiing in her 40s, running in her 50s, and enrolled in kickboxing classes at 70. Aloha loved the outdoors, particularly the California coast. Point Reyes was one of her favorite places. She was also very creative. She was a talented seamstress and painter, enjoyed soap making, and was very fond of music, cooking, and travel. Aloha's kindness and selfless consideration of others, her strength and courage, her insight, and her positive outlook made her a treasured parent, a trusted friend, and a valued mentor.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Ron Klein of Pender, Neb.; her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Cindy Vagenas of San Ramon; daughter and son-in-law, Ginger Vagenas Jones and Paul Jones, of Pacifica; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Todd and Karen Campbell of Wayne, Neb.; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Elizabeth and Hal Kravig of Lincoln, Neb.; granddaughter, Leigh Campbell of Lincoln, Neb.; grandson, David Vagenas of San Ramon; granddaughter, Marissa Jones of Pacifica; grandson, Aled Jones of Pacifica; and great-grandchildren, Morgan, Ian, and Mikayla Campbell of Wayne, Neb.; and Madison Scardina-Klein of Omaha, Neb. She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Anna Hie of Napa; her aunt, Lorene Webster of Napa and extended family in Napa, Texas, and elsewhere. She was preceded in death by her parents, Iola W. Moore and Bernard P. Hie.

A celebration of Aloha's life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Treadway & Wigger Funeral Chapel, 623 Coombs Street, Napa, with Chaplain John Berger, U.S. Navy (retired), officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather afterwards to share memories.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Point Reyes National Seashore Association, attention Jessica Taylor, 1 Bear Valley Rd., Building 70, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956, or to a charity of the donor's choice.