A. Marie Nixon

Mrs. A. Marie (Peterson) Nixon, age 95, passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2008, at DaySpring Assisted Living Center. She was born August 2, 1912 in Scottville, MI to Frank A. and Clara D. (Hansen) Peterson and lived in the Muskegon area since the age of four. After graduating from Muskegon High School in 1931, Marie attended Muskegon Junior College graduating in 1933, and studied piano at the Schaefer School of Music. She married Stuart Nixon in 1940. Stuart passed away in 1953, leaving her a widow with two children ages 11 and 7. Marie completed her college education at Western Michigan University where she earned her bachelors degree. She taught 5th grade for 25 years at Bunker School, retiring in 1978. After retiring from teaching, Marie traveled the world, including visits to Tokyo to see her daughter while she lived there. She toured many European countries with her close friend Flossie, and cruised in the Mediterranean, to Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Marie had many interests: she enjoyed knitting sweaters for herself and her family, and found great joy knitting caps for the newborns at area hospitals. Marie was an exceptional pastry cook -- her cinnamon rolls, apple pies, and cookies were legendary. Playing her baby -grand piano was her life-long passion, Chopin her favorite composer. She studied classical piano for many years and would also accompany performances with popular music for plays and events. Marie continued to play the piano until her arthritis made it impossible. In 1948, Marie helped institute the first crossing guard program in the City of Muskegon, which remains in existence today. Marie volunteered for 23 years at the American Red Cross where she coordinated the many blood drives. She received several awards of recognition for her years of service. Marie was a member of Forest Park Covenant Church where she was active with the Seniors Bible Study Group. SURVIVORS include her daughter, Margaret "Peggy" (Stephen) Holton of Norwalk, CT; her son, John Stuart (Marion) Nixon of Sugar Land, TX; step-grandchildren, Michael (Kathy) Hill; Trevor (Linda) Hill, and their daughter, Annika; Stephen (Teresa) Holton, and their children, Tristan, Alison, and Michael; Andrew Holton; Gwendolyn Carlson-Holton; nieces and nephews, Carolyn & Michael Pytel and their children, Christine, Michael, Nicholas, and Grant; Vicki Mlynar and her children, Peter, Caroline and Natalie Ann; Nancy Stromayer and her daughter, Paige; James & Elizabeth Nixon; Jeffrey & Wendy Nixon and their children, Alexandra, Eliza and Annabel; Richard & Anne Nixon and their children, Davis and Emily; Calvin Nixon; Bob Nixon; Donald & Leslie Nixon and their daughter, Jillian; Brad & Eileen Nixon and their daughters, Erica and Sarah. Besides her husband, Stuart, she was also preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Clara Peterson, her brother and sister-in-law, Darwin & Joanne Peterson, and their children Brent and Joan. A FUNERAL SERVICE will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, May 17, 2008, at Forest Park Covenant Church (3815 Henry St.) with Rev. Russ Carlson officiating. INTERMENT will take place at Evergreen Cemetery. VISITATION with Marie's family will be held one hour prior to the service, 10-11 AM Saturday at the church. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be directed to Forest Park Covenant Church or The Muskegon Chapter of the American Red Cross, 313 W. Webster Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440