Mary Amanda Nickerson
Mary Amanda Nickerson, age 94, of Kirksville, MO died Saturday, September 6, 2014, at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.
Mary was born December 5, 1919, at Etna Mills, California, daughter of Charles Augustus and Mary Susanna (Hathaway) Pitts. She was raised on a ranch near Callahan in Siskiyou County, California. Upon graduating from Etna High School, she attended 2 years at Chico State College, CA. On September 4, 1938, in Chico, California, she was united in marriage to Donald Leroy Nickerson.
Mary is survived by four children: Charles Rees Nickerson and his wife Frankie of Brandon, Florida; Paul Raymond Nickerson and wife Jacki of Kansas City, MO; Eva Jean O’Brien and husband Larry of Kirksville, MO; and Dr. Wendell Allan Nickerson and wife Kathy of Bethel, Missouri; four sisters, Marjory Smith, Dorothy Butler, Carol Maplesden, and Inez Seimers all of California; Thirteen grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law, Ed Whipple of California and Al Lavature of Liberty, MO, several nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers, two sisters, one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter.
Mary met Don when active in an Epworth League organization in Chico, CA. She and her family moved to LaPlata in 1944 where they lived for 57 years. They moved to Edina where they continued to be active in the United Methodist Church. In 2007, she went to live with her daughter in Kirksville and wintered with her son, Rees in Brandon, FL. While living with her daughter, she became a member of the First Methodist Church in Kirksville, MO.
While in LaPlata, Mary was active in many community activities including the Methodist Church of LaPlata. She was a leader with the Golden Nugget 4-H Club, and a member of the Extension Club. She was active in the Order of Eastern Star # 59. Mary and Don traveled by RV for many years and belonged to Good Sams RV Clubs and national Camping Methodists.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at the First Methodist Church of Kirksville, MO. Reverend Richard Northcutt will officiate the services. Music will be provided by family members accompanied by Dianthe Cable. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at the Nickerson family plot at Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Bucklin, MO, located 10 miles north of Bucklin, MO, 1 mile west of High 129 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Casket bearers will be Curtis O’Brien, Keenan O’Brien, Joseph Nickerson, Jared Nickerson, Michael Bohon and Ryan Long.
Memorials in memory of Mary A. Nickerson may be made to Camp Jo-Ota and may be left at or mailed to Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1, Edina, MO 63537.
