Nancy Bottomley

Nancy Elaine Kirk Bottomley, age 71, of Ellsworth, died peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on Monday, July 25, 2011. Nancy was born in Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan to Fritz B. and Doris Ilene (Specht) Kirk on 27 May 1940. Nancy graduated from Royal Oak George A. Dondero High School in 1958. While in attendance there she was a member of the National Honor Society and was President of both Junior Achievement and Future Nurses. Following high school she earned a scholarship to Wayne State University's School of Nursing. She graduated from WSU with her Bachelors in Nursing in 1962. On 15 June 1963, she married Douglas Lee Bottomley in Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan. To this union were born four children Michele Lynn, Richard James, Robert Frederick, and Laura Anne. In the early 70's Nancy taught expectant parent classes at Otsego Memorial Hospital. When in 1975, she moved to Bellaire, Michigan she began working at the Health Department. At that time, she was the only public health nurse in Antrim County. Her duties were varied, from well-baby care to school nursing to treating sick and disabled clients in their homes. In 1979, she was promoted to Home Health Coordinator, a new position at the Health Department. Nancy returned to college in 1983 and in May of 1985 received her Master of Arts in Nursing Administration from the University of Michigan. Upon completed of her degree Nancy again returned to the Health Department and at that time a hospice was getting organized in Charlevoix. Nancy represented the Health Department on the Hospice Planning Board to establish Hospice of Northwest Michigan, then called Charlevoix County Hospice. By the early 1990s, home health clients wanted nurses, therapists, and aides to continue to care for them when their doctors recommended hospice and it was decided the time was right to launch a certified hospice program in the Health Department's four counties and it could not have been done without the volunteers from Hospice of Northwest Michigan. The two organizations have been partnering ever since. Nancy retired as the Director of Adult Health & Aging Services in January of 2006. She managed home health and hospice programs for the Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency, Health Department for Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties. She touched many lives in the 25 years she worked for the Health Department. Nancy volunteered her time at Good Samaritan in Ellsworth, belongs to the Central Lake Library Book Club, plays in two golf leagues at Antrim Dells and one at Shanty Creek, is a member of the Chain O Lakes Quilters, Central Lake and Little Traverse Bay Quilter's Guild, Petoskey in which she is co-chair. Nancy is survived by her two daughters Michele 'Shelly' (Todd) Derenzy of Central Lake; Laura Bottomley (Zach) Brown of Charlevoix; her grandchildren Richard Cass Derenzy of Chicago, Illinois; Erica Michele Derenzy (Jason Luneack) of Bellaire; JJ Bottomley, Devon Michele Bottomley, and Mya Anne Brown, of Charlevoix; her great-grandson Patrick Kenneth Luneack II, her sister Diana Gange of Alpharetta, Georgia, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and many friends. She was preceded in death by her two sons, Richie and Bobby, her former husband Douglas Bottomley, her parents Fritz and Doris Kirk, and a sister Karen Sue Kirk Dickinson. The family will receive visitors Thursday, July 28, from 3-7 p.m. at Mortensen's Funeral Home in Central Lake. The funeral will be held Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at The First Congregational Church in Charlevoix. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial services will follow a Church luncheon at Fairview Cemetery, Gaylord, Michigan. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Northwest Michigan, 220 W. Garfield Charlevoix, Michigan 49720. Please sign her online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com