Etta Marie Stidham

Etta Marie Stidham (Powell), 94, passed away on January 8, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Marie was born in Hackleburg, Alabama on November 13, 1924. At that time Hackleburg’s population was about 450 and located in northwest Alabama where cotton farming was the main industry. Marie's father was a businessman who owned the local cotton gin. Marie had eight brothers and sisters. At the age of 18 (1942) she moved to Detroit where she worked in the Zenith Manufacturing Factory making aircraft engine carburetors during World War II. After the war she moved back to Alabama where she met her husband Ernest Stidham. They were married in 1947 and moved back to Detroit. While in Detroit, Marie worked for S&H Green Stamps and Saratoga Hospital. In 1979 Ernie and Marie moved to Sun City West, Arizona. Ernie retired and Marie continued working at Boswell Hospital. In 1989 Ernie passed away and Marie continued to live in Sun City West, attending Sun City West Baptist Church for 20 years. She moved to Brookdale Paradise Valley (Assisted Living) in Phoenix in 2013. She is survived by her daughter Glenda (Tony) Tominac and son Doug (Cindy) Stidham; Grandchildren Melissa, Erik and Nicole; Great-grandchildren William, Keira, Taylor, Scarlett and Zachary. A private service was held on January 14, 2019 and Marie was buried next to Ernie in the Military Honors section of Sunland Memorial Park Cemetery in Sun City, Arizona.