Mitzi Ann Ricketts

Mitzi Ann Ricketts, 80, of rural Oakland City, passed away Sunday at home peacefully, surrounded by her family. Mitzi was born July 13, 1944, to Harold and Pauline (Buck) Morgan.  She learned her strong work ethic growing up working on the family farm. She was a 1962 graduate of Mackey High School where she played basketball, participated in class plays, and graduated as salutatorian. She married Thomas Ricketts on November 26, 1963, and remained married to him until his death in 2008. 
   
Mitzi graduated from the University of Evansville School of Nursing. She was very proud of her 38-year nursing career with her favorite work experiences being in pediatric nursing for 18 years and addiction treatment for 14 years.
    
She was a member of Providence Primitive Baptist Church.  She stayed very busy over her life with many activities such as the Gibson County Master Gardeners, the Red Hat Society, and Woodcarving and Scrimshaw groups but her favorite activity of all was her music. She learned how to play piano and trombone as a child. As an adult, she learned to play both hammered and lap dulcimers.  She spent nearly 30 years playing the dulcimer, taking lessons, attending festivals, and playing with dulcimer groups including the Southern Hollow Dulcimer and Folk Group. She also dabbled in many other instruments such as harp, guitar, banjo, mandolin, marimbula, dobro, autoharp, zither, hurdy-gurdy, ukulele, steel drum, lap harp, lyre, various other percussion instruments, psaltery, and probably others. She loved all kinds of music and when not playing her own music, she spent lots of time listening to a variety of CD’s or live performances.  There was always music in her life.
    
Another thing that Mitzi loved doing was traveling with family and friends. She had visited 49 of the 50 US states (only missing Maine). She also visited other countries including parts of Canada and Mexico, going to Trinidad and Tobago on a mission trip, doing a cruise around the southern end of South America, going on a tour of the Scandinavian countries, and taking a tour from Budapest to Bucharest. She loved collecting pictures, souvenirs, and memories from each of her trips.
    
Even with all of these wonderful experiences, Mitzi always said that she enjoyed being a Mom and a Nana the most. She and Tom have 3 daughters: Regina (Mark) Rose of Ft. Branch, Kris (Darrel) Hamilton of Mt. Carmel, IL., and Kelly (Vernon) Spindler of rural Oakland City. They also have 5 grandchildren: Morgan (Jordan) Shanks, Parker (Carley) Rose, Kyra Hamilton, and Gabe and Mykayla Spindler as well as 4 great grandchildren (so far) Jaxon, Maddyn, Justice, and Leif.
    
Mitzi was preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, and a brother Jan.
    
Services for Mitzi will be Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Corn-Colvin Funeral Home in Oakland City. Visitation will be from 10am to 12pm with the funeral service following at 12pm. The graveside services will be at Providence Cemetery in rural Francisco.
    
The family wishes to express gratitude to Dr. Stephen Koewler, Ascension at Home, In Home Connect Palliative Care Nurse Practitioners Michelle, Jessica, and Lauren, as well as LaDonna, Kourtney, and all of the rest of the staff at Heart 2 Heart Hospice for taking such great care of Mitzi and allowing her to stay home until her end of life like she wanted.
    
Memorial contributions in her honor can be made to the Providence Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Mark Riley 9216 E 550 S, Oakland City, IN 47660. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
  
Condolences may be shared at CornColvinFuneralHome.com. Corn-Colvin Funeral Home is honored to serve Mitzi’s family.

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