Myrtle Grace Kinnick

PONCA — Services for Myrtle Grace Kinnick, 95, Newcastle, were June 18 at the Gospel Chapel Church, Newcastle with the Rev. John Smith officiating.
A visitation service was held June 17 at the Mohr Funeral Home, Ponca. Burial was in the Maskell Cemetery, Maskell.
Myrtle Grace Kinnick was born July 24, 1922, in Littleton, Colo., to her Lola and Harry Arnold. She had three sisters and one brother, Helen, Dorothea, Lucy and Delbert. Grace married Wilbur “Bill” Kinnick April 2, 1942, in Durango, Colo. They raised three children, Rolly, Peggy and Marcella. After Bill’s death in 1979, Grace lived in Colorado until 1981, when she moved to Nebraska to be closer to family and later lived in Hartington and Newcastle. Grace was a nurse and worked at the Crowley County Nursing Home in Ordway, Colo.; the Florence Medical Center Hospital, Florence, Colo.; Our Ladies of the Lourdes Hospital, Norfolk; and the Golden Living Center, Hartington, before her retirement at 72 years old.
Grace spent most of her childhood around Chama, N.M., and Montrose, Colo. She was an avid cowgirl and spent her life loving and riding horses until she just wasn’t able to get up in the saddle any longer. At age 12, her horse spooked and fell on her breaking her leg in several places, she spent months in traction but when the doctor gave her the OK, she was right back in the saddle. When she was just 14 she traveled by covered wagon across the mountains of Colorado with her little sister, Lucy, to move the milk cows from Chama to Montrose. Grace was adventurous and tough, never backing down from a challenge or work. After she married Bill, he went to the Philippines during WWII and Grace went to Ogden, Utah, to be a “Rosie the Riveter.” She lived there until Bill came home from the service and always loved the red earth of Utah.
Above all else Grace loved Jesus and was never afraid to tell people about Him and His love. She truly loved everyone she met and encouraged so many people to get into their Bibles and study God’s word.
She was avid about crocheting and would teach anyone who asked and some who didn’t (like her youngest daughter). Grace was active in her church as a Sunday School and Bible Study teacher, Women’s Ministry, Children’s Ministry, AWANA’s helper and always pitched in where she was needed. She found great joy in teaching children Bible verses and about God’s love. She loved to write songs and sing. Her face would always light up when someone would come and sing with her right up to the end of her life.
Grace has a legacy of love in her family and friends. She became Aunt Grace and Granny Grace to countless people. Grace always welcomed everyone into her home and her heart. She loved unconditionally and only asked one thing in return: that everyone else should also love unconditionally. There is so much to tell about Grace and the amazing life she lived and her story will live on with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She is survived by Skipper, her favorite. Her son, Rolly (Roseanna) Kinnick, Yuma, Ariz.; daughters, Peggy (Danny) Lund, Newcastle, and Marcella Donner, Wausa; grandchildren, Jason (Patsy) Kinnick, Jerry Kinnick (Alex Dodge), Tonya (Shane) Points, Carol (Danny) Culley, Alissa (Scott) Fischer, Trina Smith, Stacy Lund, Melissa Kneifl (Mike Twohig), Katie (Jason) Olesen, Jamie (Scott) Norris, Matthew Donner and Austin (Martha) Donner; 38 great-grandchildren and 24 and one half great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews; and countless honorary family Grace welcomed into her heart.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, Lola and Harry Arnold; her husband, Bill Kinnick; her sisters, Helen Brooks, and her husband, Tom; Dorothea Arnold; and Lucy Robbins, and her husband, Harold; her brother, Delbert and his wife, Helen; her sons-in-law, Roland Smith and Roger Donner; and numerous aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.