Obituary for Hattie E. Bickel
Mrs. Hattie E. Bickel, age 92, of California, MO. passed away Thursday, May 14, 2020 at SSM Health, St. Mary’s Hospital.
Hattie was born on August 7, 1927 in Columbia, MO., the daughter of Norval Lefate “Bert” and Goldie Essary. She was married on October 21, 1946 in Jefferson City, MO. to Rev. Jacob Arnold Bickel who preceded her in death on August 10, 2011.
A lifelong resident of the Central Missouri area, Hattie was a graduate of New Bloomfield High School. She worked in banking for several years before becoming the Domestics Manager for Walmart in Mexico, MO. from where she retired.
Hattie’s true love, besides her Lord, her husband, her sons and her family, was reading and spending time at church. She was a devoted and faithful Christian serving alongside her husband in the ministry especially missions, Bible Study and choir. Hattie sang alto in choirs at Bethlehem Baptist, Centralia, MO., Immanuel Baptist, Jefferson City, MO., First Baptist, Troy, MO., First Baptist, Mexico, MO., and Salem Baptist, California, MO. She was a member of Centertown Baptist Church where her son, Stephen, had been her pastor.
Hattie loved her family and spending time with them. She was very proud of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and loved to cook for them on holidays. She would spend days crocheting afghans for family members. She was a collector of souvenirs, especially rocks. Every vacation a rock would make it home, except the large ones that airlines would not allow on the plane. Her flower gardens always had rocks from every state she traveled. She also loved to travel with her husband, his sister and brother-in-law to Branson. At times she and Arnold would venture to Florida to see Steve and his family, but she hated the sand. Her favorite memory was traveling to the White Mountains in New Hampshire and being accidentally hit by a snowball thrown by Steve.
Survivors include: her son, Stephen Bickel and wife Carolyn of Lohman, MO., two sisters, Mary Ann Roberts and husband Jim of Cumberland, R.I., and Carolyn Huettenmeyer and husband Jim of St. Louis, MO., three brothers: Bob Essary and wife Selma of Holts Summit, MO., David Essary and wife Susan of Weirsdale, Fl., and Norman Essary and wife Lynn of St. Martins, MO., five grandchildren: Kelley Bergman and husband David, Leslie Wilhelmsen and husband Ronny, Kirk Bickel and wife Alison, Stacey Fischer and husband Devin, and Kory Bickel and wife Alison; nine great-grandchildren, and many other family and friends who will miss her dearly.
Hattie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son, Darrell Bickel on March 30, 1992, and her daughter-in-law, Betty Bickel on May 13, 1981.
Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary Wednesday, May 20, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. The general public is welcome to attend the visitation while following social distancing guidelines. Please stay 6 feet apart and avoid close contact. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to wear personal masks or other personal protective equipment while in attendance.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at Freeman Chapel with Rev. Stephen Bickel, Rev. Billy Bolden, and Rev. Roy Barnard officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.
A webcast of the funeral service will be available for friends that are not able to attend by going to her memorial page on Freeman Mortuary’s website. Friends may mail sympathy cards to the funeral home or leave condolences online to be given to her family.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.
Hattie was born on August 7, 1927 in Columbia, MO., the daughter of Norval Lefate “Bert” and Goldie Essary. She was married on October 21, 1946 in Jefferson City, MO. to Rev. Jacob Arnold Bickel who preceded her in death on August 10, 2011.
A lifelong resident of the Central Missouri area, Hattie was a graduate of New Bloomfield High School. She worked in banking for several years before becoming the Domestics Manager for Walmart in Mexico, MO. from where she retired.
Hattie’s true love, besides her Lord, her husband, her sons and her family, was reading and spending time at church. She was a devoted and faithful Christian serving alongside her husband in the ministry especially missions, Bible Study and choir. Hattie sang alto in choirs at Bethlehem Baptist, Centralia, MO., Immanuel Baptist, Jefferson City, MO., First Baptist, Troy, MO., First Baptist, Mexico, MO., and Salem Baptist, California, MO. She was a member of Centertown Baptist Church where her son, Stephen, had been her pastor.
Hattie loved her family and spending time with them. She was very proud of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and loved to cook for them on holidays. She would spend days crocheting afghans for family members. She was a collector of souvenirs, especially rocks. Every vacation a rock would make it home, except the large ones that airlines would not allow on the plane. Her flower gardens always had rocks from every state she traveled. She also loved to travel with her husband, his sister and brother-in-law to Branson. At times she and Arnold would venture to Florida to see Steve and his family, but she hated the sand. Her favorite memory was traveling to the White Mountains in New Hampshire and being accidentally hit by a snowball thrown by Steve.
Survivors include: her son, Stephen Bickel and wife Carolyn of Lohman, MO., two sisters, Mary Ann Roberts and husband Jim of Cumberland, R.I., and Carolyn Huettenmeyer and husband Jim of St. Louis, MO., three brothers: Bob Essary and wife Selma of Holts Summit, MO., David Essary and wife Susan of Weirsdale, Fl., and Norman Essary and wife Lynn of St. Martins, MO., five grandchildren: Kelley Bergman and husband David, Leslie Wilhelmsen and husband Ronny, Kirk Bickel and wife Alison, Stacey Fischer and husband Devin, and Kory Bickel and wife Alison; nine great-grandchildren, and many other family and friends who will miss her dearly.
Hattie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son, Darrell Bickel on March 30, 1992, and her daughter-in-law, Betty Bickel on May 13, 1981.
Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary Wednesday, May 20, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. The general public is welcome to attend the visitation while following social distancing guidelines. Please stay 6 feet apart and avoid close contact. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to wear personal masks or other personal protective equipment while in attendance.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at Freeman Chapel with Rev. Stephen Bickel, Rev. Billy Bolden, and Rev. Roy Barnard officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.
A webcast of the funeral service will be available for friends that are not able to attend by going to her memorial page on Freeman Mortuary’s website. Friends may mail sympathy cards to the funeral home or leave condolences online to be given to her family.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.