A celebration of the life of Nina Gidley Harrison will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at 11:00 A.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in East Jordan.  A luncheon will follow the tribute.

Nina died on November 20, 2016.  For 12 years she struggled against GBS (Gillian-Barre Syndrome) and all the after-affects and all the continuous new developments caused by this disease.

  Nina was born October 22, 1949, and grew up on Lake Charlevoix in East Jordan.  Small town life was good.  She went door-to-door selling Girl Scout Cookies, baby sat, worked in her father’s drug store, taught Sunday school and tapped maple trees.  In school, she played in the band, took photos for the yearbooks, participated in school plays and was active in numerous clubs.  The entire family thoroughly enjoyed the year Marita (foreign exchange student from Sweden) joined the family.

  After graduation, Nina attended Northwest Michigan Junior College in Traverse City for 2 years.  She then transferred to Western University in Kalamazoo and enrolled in the nursing programs.  Quickly, Nina decided that nursing was not her calling and she then entered the business program.  Meanwhile, she married, had a son, Matt, a daughter, Kelly, and continued to attend school and work inside and outside of home.

  It took 10 years! Ten years of dedication and she had her Bachelor Degree!!  In the 70’s, married women and mothers in business were not as accepted as they are today.  When Nina was promoted at Philip Morris, the Kalamazoo newspaper published as article about her and her promotion.

  In 1994, Nina moved to Raleigh, NC, seeking a warmer climate and new job opportunities.  In 2002, she met Keith Harrison and they married on January 2, 2004.  Two days later, Nina was in the hospital ICU and remained there for almost 3 months.  Together Nina and Keith faced many challenges presented by Nina’s health – operations, therapies, experimental drugs, blood transfers, test, etc.

  Although Nina never fully recovered and before her health deteriorated more rapidly, she and Keith were able to travel to Alaska, mini-casino trips, Arizona and Michigan.  And joy of joy, she became a grandmother four separate times, a boy, a girl, a boy and another girl.  She was determined to make many great memories with them, and she did!!

  Nina’s family and friends will always remember her courage, determination, love of e-bay, spirit, love of her fur babies, sense of humor, her love for East Jordan and her roots, love of life and her total dedication and love of family.

  Nina is survived by husband, Keith Harrison; son, Matt (Julie) Gidley; daughter, Kelly (Norberto) Rosado; 4 grandchildren, Silas Gidley, Makayla Rosado, Braiden Rosado and Lola Gidley; her sister, Sally Lilak; 2 nephews; and 4 great nieces.  She was preceded in death by her brother, James Gidley in 1974, father, Hugh Gidley in 2008 and mother, Evelyn Gidley in 2016.  

Memorial contributions may be given to Transitions LifeCare Hospice, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607, hospice of donor’s choice, or First Presbyterian Church in East Jordan.

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