Neoma L. Ryba

Neoma Lee Ryba, 83, died of cancer at her Seaview residence on April 25, 2014. The youngest of six children of Albert and Clara Meininger, she was born in Vici, Oklahoma on July 31 1930. When she was just a very small child the family was forced to leave Oklahoma due to the Dust Bowl. They relocated to Monte Vista and Rocky Ford, Colorado prior to moving to Vancouver, Washington in 1942. There Neoma attended Shumway Junior High and Fort Vancouver High School. Neoma married Gordon Ryba in 1947. Their first home together was in John Day, Oregon where they worked together on a ranch. Returning to Vancouver, Neoma settled into being a wife, mother and homemaker until both her children were teenagers. She then began a career in sales, becoming successful selling McNees Products through the "home party" plan for about 20 years in and around Clark county. In 1973 Neoma and Gordon moved to Ocean Park to manage the Ocean Park Tourist Camp. In 1979 they made their final move to a home in Seaview. Neoma was very active locally with the Long Beach Elks lodge, Ocean Park Eagles Auxiliary, Ocean Park Women of the Moose, Outta Stepper Drill Team and Peninsula Dart League. Committed to this community she volunteered for the Elks Christmas basket endeavor, the Long Beach Loyalty Days, Long Beach Jazz Festival and the annual Kite Festival. Neoma is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Michael and Katherine Ryba of Seaview; daughter Linda Koplin of Long Beach; grandchildren Heather Nadeau, Michael L. Ryba, Christopher Koplin and Kimberly Doan; great-grandchildren Austin Koplin, Katie and Brandon Nadeau, Abigail Doan, Gordon Koplin, and Ryan and Rohan Ryba. Her companion of 14 years, Robert Simcoe, also survives. She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon; brothers Charles Laverne, Delbert and Clayton, sister Pauline Kerr, and granddaughter Dawn Ryba. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 17, 2014, 1:00 PM at Long Beach Elks lodge. Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com. Memorials may be made to Harbors Home Health and Hospice in care of Penttila's Chapel, PO Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631.