I am sorry to hear of the loss of your love one.  May God provide strength and comfort to the family during this time of grief.

My "third grandma", Grandma Nan was my sister's godmother (I guess in a way mine too) and wife of my grandfather's best friend growing up in Spokane (they were friends from age 2). She was an incredible, "sharp-shooting", huge-hearted woman who made you feel like 2 million bucks always (not a million... 2 million!). When she said she was going to pray for something it wasn't just a nice thing to say, she meant it. She believed in God and wasn't concerned about letting you know where she stood. She knew she had things that bothered her or things about her own life that she did and she was ready to let them go - I respected that immensely. Since she married my grandfather's best friend she knew my mom's side of the family better than I do going back more than 50 years. I heard things about my own family that I had no idea about like my Grandpa Dave being in Ralph's Mom's Sunday School class probably more than 90 years ago. Her husband Ralph AKA Grandpa Ralph passed away some time in the 90s (I think, I was much younger). The two together were awesome - they made you feel like 4 million bucks! She immigrated from Northern Ireland and I'm hoping to track down her memoirs about growing up during the war there - it is amazing to read and was incredible to hear her talk about it. It was also interesting to hear about her decision to move to Spokane. My wife and I were able to see her about 2 years ago and even though she "didn't cook anymore" she still loaded us with TONS of food from her freezer (she had been saying that to me since I went to school over in Spokane). I was able to get a few of her recipes and really need to try them. My college roommates didn't meet Nan but they knew her from all the frozen cookies I would bring to our house. Beside just being awesome and you know, Grandma Nan, she fed me for weeks on end with some of the other frozen things (heaps of pasties, homemade pot pies, huge tubs of spaghetti sauce). I really wanted to stop by when we were on the way to Montana in July but it just didn't happen. So to people who have someone they want to see - make the time and go see them.

My dad, Dave Stowell, said one time, “Nan knows her way around a sandwich!”  She had made lunch for everybody when my folks were visiting one time, and he thought she made one delicious sandwich.  

Our whole family spent many delightful times with Ralph and Nan and then just Nan over the years. Whenever we would come to Spokane we would be sure to go out to lunch and try to go to church before we left town.  We shared the love of Jesus and enjoyed talking about the Lord with them both.   

Nan has been my prayer partner for many years.  I could call her and I knew she would pray.  We had many wonderful answers.  Now I will pick up her “cloak” and be the prayer partner for others.  She finished well—I pray that I can finish as well as she did.

Annie and my mother, Alice Wilson, were dear friends.  Mother always spoke of the wonderful meals Annie made and what a good cook she was.  When I was diagnosed with cancer, Annie put me on her prayer list and has prayed for me for the last 10 years.  What a wonderful gift she had -- feeding peoples bodies as well as their souls.  We will miss her.

Sharon Roberts

OBITUARY

Annie Hewitt Bickford

July 3, 1930 – August 20, 2014

Ball & Dodd Funeral Home

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