Nina May Ybarra

Nina was born in Parma in 1928, the 7th child of Charles and Bertha (Buske) Southwell. She was the great-grandchild of Jackson pioneers Edward and Elizabeth (Eighmey) Southwell, of Henrietta township, and grandchild of Asa J. and Ella (Abbott) Southwell. Her ancestor Luther Bishop served for Connecticut at the Lexington Alarm. Maternal grandparents were Karl “Charles” Buske, Michigan immigrant from Prussia in 1876 with parents Christian and Friedrike (Schuzer), and Wilhelmena “Minnie” Buske.

Nina attended one-room schoolhouses, both in Parma, and on her grandparents’ former land north of Jackson (the “Southwell School”). She graduated from Parma High School in 1946, and was a lifelong attendee of North Parma Church. After school she worked for Corning Glass, where she met her husband Amador V. Ybarra in 1953. They were happily married for 52 years. Nina raised six children in Jackson, and was a beloved second mom to many, simply adding them to the stack in the back of the VW bus. Nina loved to drive the countryside and visit friends and family. She befriended everyone she met, and had an adage for every situation. To her children and grandchildren, she was kind, calm, generous, practical, honest, and loving. To her friends, she was fun and feisty.

Nina returned to work selling advertising for the Parma News. She said she could sell “ice cubes to Eskimos,” and her skills ensured the newspaper’s success. Together with her husband and the Cascades Civitan, Nina served the community with numerous volunteer activities, including monthly dances for adults with disabilities and distribution of food to elderly residents. Nina enjoyed winters in Redwood City, California, where she wrote her memoirs at the Veterans’ Memorial Senior Center. She was an avid reader and fostered a love of puzzles, words, and books in her children. She enjoyed clubs including quilting, Red Hat Society, and Parma “Country Club.”

Nina was predeceased by her husband, parents and seven siblings: Ella Burroughs, Edward Southwell, Bernie Joe Southwell, Howard Southwell, Irma Martin, Ruby Radziewicz, and Jean Frizzell. She is survived by her children: Noemi Ybarra (Larry Guentert); Nicho Ybarra (Florence Gray); Carolyn Ybarra (Shimon Avrahami); Amador V. Ybarra, Jr. (Tish); Anna Marie Lenardson (James, Jr., “Robb”); and John Ybarra; grandchildren: Elana Ybarra (Josh Elliott); Kyle (Trisha Binschus); Jessie Avrahami; Isaac, Ezri, and Shyanna Lenardson; and two great-grandchildren.

Donations in her memory may be made to:

Cascades Civitan

c/o Angie Brigham

757 Carlton Blvd.

Jackson, MI 49203

A Memorial Service to celebrate Nina's life will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 11:00AM at the Springport United Methodist Church, 127 W. Main St., Springport, MI with Pastor Mark E. Mitchell officiating. A reception will follow the service in the fellowship hall.