Mary Alice Mitchell Bickel passed away Jan. 13, 2017, at the age of 83.

A loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother, passed peacefully at Wellbrooke of Crawfordsville, where she had been a resident.

Mary Alice was born Oct. 27, 1933, at Des Moines, Iowa, to Merrill and Vera Mitchell. She married Donald R. Bickel on Aug. 7, 1955.

Mary Alice was a 1951 graduate of Crawfordsville High School and the Lakeview Hospital School of Nursing, Danville, Illinois, in 1954. Mary Alice retired from nursing after 43 years. She worked as a registered nurse at Caylor-Nickel Hospital, Bluffton, followed by Culver Union Hospital and Lane House Nursing Home in Crawfordsville.

During her life, Mary Alice was active with the Crawfordsville High School Class of 1951 alumni and Lakeview Alumni Association. She also enjoyed being an active volunteer with the Well Baby Clinic, Meals on Wheels as well as Christ Lutheran Church.

Mary Alice is survived by her three children, Jeff (Barb) Bickel, Crawfordsville, Kris Ann Shireman, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Mark M. (Missie) Bickel, Crawfordsville; five grandchildren, George Shireman, Lauren Bickel, Elizabeth Bickel, Dietrich Shireman and Gus Bickel.

Mary Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents, Merrill and Vera Mitchell; daughter Susan M. Bickel; and son-in-law Richard T. Shireman.

A celebration of life will be held at noon Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at Christ Lutheran Church, 300 W. South Blvd., Crawfordsville, with visitation one hour prior.

Her family requests, in lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Montgomery County Historical Society, 212 S. Water St., Crawfordsville, IN 47933 or Dr. Mary Ludwig Free Clinic, 816 Mill St., Crawfordsville, IN 47933.