Almeda B. Mease

MEASE, BICKSLER

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 10/20/2006 at 20:41:45

Almeda B. Mease

Almeda B. Mease, age 90, of Pickford, Mich., died Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She was born March 31, 1916, in New Hampton, Missouri, to Harry E. And Margie S. (Hurlbut) Bicksler.

For most of her childhood, Almeda's family lived in rural Wyoming where her father was a mission pastor of several small community churches.

When she was a teenager, her family moved to Oak Hill, Ohio, where she graduated from high school.

Almeda met Frank R. Mease while he was a student pastor studying with her father.

She and Frank were married on August 5, 1938, in Oak Hill. As a pastor's wife, Almeda made each church family her own.

They served churches in Greeley, Kansas; Pickford-Stalwart-Donaldson, Michigan; Eldorado, Illinois; Vail, Iowa; and Pender, Nebraska.

After "retiring" from full time service, they served in Paola, Kansas, as assistants and then as interim pastor/wife in Pickford-Stalwart; DeTour-Hessel, Michigan; Rudyard-Dafter, Michigan; Sagola, Michigan-Florence, Wisconsin; Calumet, Michigan; Dunloy, Ireland; and Barrow, Alaska.

They finally settled in Pickford where she continued to be very active in the Pickford Presbyterian Church.

Almeda was also a member of the Pickford Lions Club and has served as Chaplin of the Pickford Grange for many years.

Almeda and Frank traveled extensively, including a trip "around the world."

She enjoyed reading and gardening.

Even though she lived in many different church manses most of her life, she always grew raspberry plants in her gardens.

Almeda had a wonderful zest for life.

She touched countless lives with her generous, loving, gentle and caring heart, which endeared her to everyone who met her.

Almeda is survived by one daughter, Shirley (Anthony) Deisch of West Palm Beach, Florida; three sons, Larry (Ana Maria) Mease of Eureka, California, Ronald (Mehri) Mease of West Palm Beach, and Carl (Lynette) Mease of Shelton, Washington; grandchildren, Toni (Ted) Crowley, Penny (Jay) Hipps, Almeda Mease, Nura Mease, Micah (Deanna) Mease, Kristin (John) Swenson, Levi Mease, Simeon Mease, Enoch Mease, Gideon Mease, Titus Mease, Max (Leigh Ann) Deisch, and Christopher (Barbara) Deisch; and great-grandchildren, Tess and Trevor Crowley, Tyler and Gavin Hipps, Maxwell, Madeleine and Alan Deisch, and Aryanna, Krissy and Jamie Mease.

Almeda was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, in 1996; two brothers, Hurlbut and Harry Bicksler; and one sister, Margie Raber.

Visitation was held on Tuesday, October 10 from 11:00 a.m. Until 2:00 p.m. At Pickford Presbyterian Church.

Her funeral service followed at 2:00 p.m. At the church with Reverend Ron Bown officiating. Burial was in Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Bruce Township, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be left to the Pickford Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 266, Pickford, MI 49774.

The Reamer Galer Funeral Home of Pickford was in charge of the arrangements.

Posted with permission from:

Denison Bulletin/Review

Denison IA 51442

10/13/2006