Longtime Sapulpa resident Naoma Hazel (Stark) Hemphill passed away on March 11, 2026, in Owasso, Oklahoma. She was 88 years old.

Naoma was born February 16, 1938, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the first of four children to Ernest and Lillie Stark. She grew up on a farm and later in the town of Prescott, KS, where she helped her parents run a grocery store. Naoma graduated valedictorian from Prescott High School and then obtained a degree in Elementary Education from Bethany Nazarene College (Southern Nazarene University) in Bethany, Oklahoma. It was there that she met her husband, Bob Hemphill. After working as an elementary school teacher while Bob went to medical school, the two of them served the Church of the Nazarene as missionaries in southern Africa from 1967 through 1975. Among many roles on the mission field, Naoma served as a teacher in a teacher’s training college, gave piano lessons to missionary kids, and supervised the central supply operation of the mission hospital.

Naoma and the family moved to Sapulpa in 1978, where she spent most of the remainder of her life. In addition to raising two children, she remained very active in the Nazarene church, both locally and at the district level, where she served as the President of the Nazarene World Mission Society for many years.

Naoma was known as one of the most loving, giving, kind, and patient individuals. She was always thinking of others before herself and found joy in helping and caring for others. Naoma loved being a mother and grandma; her children and grandkids, along with many others benefitted from her gentle guidance, knowing they were valued and loved unconditionally.  Naoma also loved hosting meals and having people stay in their home. Many family members, friends, and missionaries enjoyed her hospitality and home cooked food around the dining room table throughout the years.

Naoma is preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Lillie Stark, and her brother Wayne Stark.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Bob Hemphill, her children David (& Rebecca) Hemphill and Laura (& Chuck) Drosos, her grandchildren Nate (& Mary Ashley) Bannister, Allison (& Marcus) Cera, and Brad (& Savannah) Woolery, her brother Eddie (& Margaret) Stark, her sister Marylin Rogers, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to contribute to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (give.ncm.org).