| Notes |
- Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Nadean Stickney
September 24, 1938 - February 2, 2010
Mattawan, MI
Mary "Nadean" Stickney was richly blessed with the gifts of generosity and hospitality, and she used each gift to lavish upon others in a way that was all her own. She was intelligent and classy with a certain charm to her every thought, word, and deed. Nadean wrote an eloquent love story with her true companion, and together they reflected the rare beauty that a marriage can truly be between two people who are willing to sacrifice for the other. She was devoted to her family throughout her life and even as her own health issues brought challenges to overcome, she continued to serve her family as though they were a priceless treasure. In fact, Nadean made each moment she shared with those she loved a priceless gift to be cherished in the hearts and lives of all those she leaves behind.
By the dawn of the year 1938, America had been clutched by the Great Depression for nearly nine years and people were looking for both joy and hope wherever they could. People lost themselves for a mere moment while watching Our Town on stage or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the silver screen while others took in a baseball game with greats such as Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig, even if over the radio. There was great hope for the future for Curtis and Ruth (Wright) Blankenship as they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Mary, on September 24th. Mary, who often went by Nadean, was born in Bland, Virginia, located in the southwest region of the state. She remained in Bland throughout her formative years and was raised as the oldest of three children in her family. Nadean's father worked in the local lumber mills while her mother was a seamstress at a clothing store. Nadean attended Bland High School and became proficient at playing the guitar as her mother was a talented musician herself. Although their family didn't have much, they made the most of the simple life they were blessed with.
After graduating from high school in 1956, Nadean went to Roanoke and received her RN degree in 1959. Although earning her degree was very important to her, 1959 brought her even greater joy than she could have ever imagined. Nadean was set up on a blind date through some mutual friends with a man who would forever hold the key to her heart. His name was Harry Stickney, and he was home on leave as a soldier in the Army while Nadean was finishing her last semester in college. There was an immediate attraction between them and the sparks flew for the following six weeks. Harry was then sent back to fulfill his duties, but he returned in September with an engagement ring for his sweetheart in celebration of her graduation. They were married on September 6, 1959, in York, South Carolina, at the Justice of the Peace. They had no money for a honeymoon, and Harry soon returned to Oklahoma while Nadean focused on studying for her state exam.
Once Harry's military duties were completed, he settled with his bride in Texas Township, Michigan, where he was born and raised. Harry worked on the family farm and also at the First Federal Bank. They started their family right away including Tina in 1960, Cindy in 1961, and Tammy in 1963. Nadean immersed herself in caring for her daughters and remained at home full-time until Tammy was in school. She then began working part-time at Bronson Hospital. Nadean eventually ended up working at Ridgeview Manor for 18 years until her health no longer allowed her to continue. Throughout their married life, Nadean and Harry moved around quite a bit within Texas Township, although Nadean was always partial to houses on a hill. The longest they ever remained in a home was for 23 years in their home on Cedar Lake in Lawton. Both Nadean and Harry loved living on the water, she especially enjoyed fishing right off the dock.
There were so many ways in which Nadean was such an extraordinary caretaker of those she adored. She worked tirelessly to make her house a home, always making all her own curtains, tending to her magnificent flower gardens outside, and filling her home with the fresh flowers she grew. Nadean did a lot of canning and was a great cook who was famous for her bean soup, salsa, bread and butter pickles, pulled pork sandwiches, and peanut brittle among many more. Holidays were accompanied by a mouth-watering feast and everything in her home decorated to the nines, even when her arthritis caused her tremendous pain in her hands. When Nadean's family grew to include grandchildren, there were simply more people for her to fuss over. She treasured serving her children and grandchildren at the lake in ways both great and small.
Although caring for her family was her main focus, Nadean did enjoy some other interests as well. She loved shopping, but was a smart shopper who could always find the best deals. Nadean put a name and a face to the phrase "shop till you drop!" She was a gifted seamstress, messed around on the piano until her arthritis limited her playing, and did some knitting, too. Nadean also liked ceramics, painting on glass, reading novels and cookbooks, and watching Food Network. She enjoyed the companionship of their most recent poodle, Precious.
After retirement, Nadean and Harry built a home near Orlando, Florida. Ultimately, they missed their children and grandchildren so much they moved back to Michigan after about five years. Then over the past few years, Nadean's health became more of a struggle after a difficult recovery following shoulder surgery.
The ways that Mary "Nadean" Stickney served others were limitless as she was constantly doing for others. She was the matriarch of their family and lived to please her children. Nadean's kind and gentle heart also extended to her many lifelong friends and numerous others within her reach. She shared an abiding love with her husband with whom she made it a point to never go to bed mad. Even as her health made life more difficult at times, Nadean never complained and rarely allowed her struggles to affect the life she led. She was such a special woman to so many and will be dearly missed by countless people who received her tender touch.
Mary "Nadean" Stickney of Mattawan and formerly of Cedar Lake and Lawton died on February 2, 2010, at Bronson Hospital. Nadean's family includes her husband, Harry Stickney; 3 daughters, Tina (Craig) Bontrager, Cindy Stickney and Tamara (Brad) Booz; 5 grandchildren: Michelle (Jason) Brovold, Angela and Jeffrey Bontrager, Tiffany and Brittany Snow; a sister, Brenda (Frank) Stepp; brother, Ned (Dana) Blankenship; and many nieces and nephews.
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1938 - 2010 (71 years)
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