Betty Emerson

Betty Lou Emerson, 77, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at her Petoskey home.

She was born March 23, 1938, in East Rochester, Ohio, to Robert and Kathryn (Slates) Wickersham. She grew up in Minerva, Ohio, and graduated from Minerva High School. Betty received her Nurse's training at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio. She worked as a Registered Nurse in both the OR and office setting, first in northeast Ohio, and later at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing and at Chelsea Hospital in Chelsea. Following her retirement from nursing, Betty worked as a merchandiser for Hallmark Stores in Ohio and northern Michigan.

On May 11, 1958, Betty married Richard Lee Emerson in Minerva. They made their home in northeast Ohio until 1974, when they moved to Howell, Michigan. There they lived for twenty-four years. They returned to northeast Ohio for ten years before moving to Petoskey, where they have lived the past three years.

Betty attended the First Presbyterian Church in Petoskey and belonged to the Little Traverse Bay Quilters Guild. She also enjoyed her time at the Friendship Center. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 38, in Howell, and was a founding member of the Howell Garden Club. She loved to quilt, sew, garden and grow hostas, and she enjoyed her Curtis Park neighborhood.

Betty is survived by her husband, Richard L.; children, Lori (Ted) Pall of Petoskey, Steven (Jill) Emerson of Puyallup, Wash., Kathy (Kyle) Henderson of Rochester, Minn., Derri (Benton) Parsons of New London, Oh.; grandchildren, Thaddeus and Adam Pall, Patrick and Jake Emerson, Kelsey Henderson, Benton Shae, Nate and Gabriella Parsons; great-granddaughter, Callie Parsons; brothers, Richard Wickersham of Minerva, Oh., Wayne (Charlotte) Wickersham of Saint David, Ariz.; sister-in-law, Julia Wickersham of Louisville, Oh; aunt Boots (Marvin) Beans of New Philadelphia, Oh. Betty was preceded in death by her brother, James, and sister-in-law, Wanda.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 26, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Petoskey, with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Friendship Center in Petoskey, 1322 Anderson Rd, Petoskey, MI 49770 or the First Presbyterian Church, 501 E Mitchell St, Petoskey, MI 49770.