Elda Marie Nye

Elda Marie Hamel Nye 88, of Hessel died Friday March 1, 2013 at Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace. She was born in Cedarville May 9, 1924 to Robert and Gertrude (Meyers) Hamel. Elda was a 1941 graduate of Cedarville High School and of Ferris State College. She married Vernon A. Nye on November 13, 1942, and lived in the Detroit area until Vernie enlisted in the Navy. Elda moved to Hessel, living with Vernie' s parents, William and Selma Nye, along with Vernies' s two sisters Ruth and Iva, whose husbands were also serving overseas in WWII. Elda was a charter member of the VFW Women's Auxiliary in Hessel. She was very active in our community, always ready to help others. Memberships included Hessel Presbyterian Ladies Aid, Les Cheneaux Quilt Guild, Clark Township Ambulance Corp, and the Association of Michigan Basketmakers. She was a member of the Hessel Presbyterian Church, playing the piano and organ at services for 54 years. She was a skilled basketmaker, writing original basket patterns with her daughter Jeri and also teaching local basketmakers and many others at State Conventions in Michigan, Indiana, North Carolina and Florida. She was chosen to have her baskets included in the Great Lakes Heritage of Basketry, a permanent, traveling collection of baskets displayed around the country. Photos and the history of her basketmaking skills are published in a book of the same name. Elda served as Clark Township Clerk; worked with Oliver Birge, book binding at the Hessel School building; was a bookkeeper for Vernie' s construction business; and was a partner in The Woodshed Gift Shop, along with Jeri Griffin and Rene Rudd. She cheerfully shared her talents for Quilting, Sewing and Basketmaking. Elda loved her music and loved sharing with others - the "peppier" the better! She mastered the piano, organ, accordion, guitar and banjo; most of them self- taught. Besides the music and basketry, her favorite hobbies were sewing, quilting, knitting, reading and playing cards. She loved hunting and fishing (both summer and winter) and she cooked the best fried fish ever! Elda was a warm, kind and considerate soul; all who knew her will miss her. She was a three-time cancer survivor, and always had a smile and a cheerful, adventurous attitude. She is survived by her children, Jeri (John) Griffin of Cedarville; Susie (Bill) Rutledge of Hessel; Tom (Debbie) Nye of Palmerton PA; and Sally Nye of Charlevoix. Five grandchildren feel the loss, Brenda Griffin DeRosha of Traverse City; Dave (Kris) Griffin of Reed City; Andy (Kelly) Rutledge of Keene NH; and Gwyneth and Gillian Nye of Alpena. She was proud to have six great-grandchildren, Zack and Julianne Griffin; Ariane DeRosha; and Zoe, Elliot, and Piper Rutledge. Her brothers Arlo and Jim Hamel; her sister Hyla Hamel Goucher; and many nieces and nephews also survive her. Elda was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Gertrude Hamel; her husband of 66 years, Vernie Nye; twin daughters, Diane and Darlene; and brother Ivan Hamel. Visitation is Saturday, March 9, from noon to 2:00 PM at the Hessel Presbyterian Church. Services will be at 2:00 PM, with a luncheon to follow. C. S. Mulder Funeral of Sault Ste. Marie is assisting the family with arrangements. Burial will be at Cedar Cemetery in the spring. Memorials may be directed to the Hessel Presbyterian Memorial Fund, PO Box 301, Hessel MI 49745 or to the wonderful Les Cheneaux Ambulance Auxiliary, PO Box 301, Hessel MI 49745.

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Elda Marie Nye

May 9, 1924 - March 1, 2013