Mary A. Pike

Mary A. Pike 97, Rochester, Indiana, passed away at 4:10 P.M. Sunday, March 10, 2019 at Life Care Center of Rochester.

She was born on December 17, 1921 in Mentone, Indiana, the daughter of Gordon and Edith (Vandermark) Young. She graduated from Akron High School in 1940. On December 17, 1940 in Rochester, Indiana, she married the love of her life Forest H. Pike. They had over 50 years of great adventures. He preceded her in death on December 16, 1995.

 Mrs. Pike had worked at Nickles Bakery as a bookkeeper retiring in 1990 and had also worked in the family business with Pike Garage Door Sales. She was a member of the Women’s of the Elks Lodge, American Legion Auxiliary and Eagles Auxiliary.

 She was a very talented woman who was able to do many sports from bowling to golf. She excelled in both sports, winning titles in many tournaments. She loved the game of golf and taught several people, children, and grandchildren. She loved helping out the youth league for kids at the Elks. A special memory she always liked to share was that her husband, a city boy, brought a country girl to town and taught her how to play golf but wouldn’t play with her. She would say that she asked him once why he wouldn’t play with her and his answer was, ‘I am not going to have you beat me’. This always brought a special smile to her face.  She was one of the first lady’s to help out with and getting free mammograms for people in need.  When her children were young, she was their den leader and always made sure that all the neighborhood kids could play basketball at her house in which many times she played herself and would forget that she had eggs boiling until the smell came out of the house. She would have to buy a new pot because of her playing ‘that silly game’ (her words).

She loved having a garden, in which her son Fuzzy and she would have to make sure that she canned 200 quarts of green beans every year to last through the coming year. Her specialties, that were amazing, were her panned fried chicken and peanut brittle, which she shared with numerous friends and family. Her true passion was the Elks Lodge. She loved playing golf there and helping out either in the pro shop, cooking panned fried chicken, or planting flowers.  She was a wonderful mother and grandmother whom her children and grandchildren love.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, David “Radar” Pike, Rochester, Indiana, Richard “Fuzzy” and wife Penny Pike, Rochester, Indiana, Mark and wife Cindy Pike, Macy, Indiana, grandchildren, Josh (Marji) Pike, Brandy (Cory) Winn, R.D. Pike, Jessica, Jeremiah, and Marilynn Pike, great grandchildren, Jaxs Pike, Cooper, Chloe, and Callen Winn, sisters, Margaret Yeater, Michigan and Frances Irvin, Warsaw, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Sally Pike Bell in 2001, brothers, Everett and Charles Young, sisters, Opal Epler and Doris Ann Young.

At her request, there will be no visitation and a private family memorial will be planned at a later date. Arrangements are by Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester. On line condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com

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