Cover photo for Sue  Ellen Rick's Obituary
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1937 Sue 2016

Sue Ellen Rick

July 27, 1937 — April 8, 2016

Sue was as kind, joyful, and generous as anyone you might ever know, said her life-long friend, Sonna Crowder of Covington, IN. She added, Sue has so many close friends and she cherishes all of them. They all love her.

During her illness, Sue had said she was so happy she had the privilege of fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a nurse.

Sue Ellen Rick, 78 died Friday April 8, 2016 at her rural home in Covington, IN, after a 14-year battle with a rare liver disease and destructive kidney ailment which led to overwhelming fatigue.
Even after a worsening health last year, she clung to her nursing skills as a Parish nurse for the United Methodist Church in Covington. Maintaining a joyful nature, she kept up visits with close members.

Judy Ciecka, a close nursing friend, said Sues co-balance was her deep religious faith. Sue gave so much care to her church and many others. She was a true Christian, an amazing, courageous, and wonderful person.

Of nursing, Sue believed the guiding principles of Florence Nightingale were rooted fully in the tenants of Christ Jesus.

Sue was born near Terre Haute, IN on July 27, 1937, to Reagan and Hazel (Blair) Mallett. She was married in Benson Chapel on December 6, 1959 to James Rick. They shared 56 years of marriage.

She is survived by her husband, James: two sons, Reagan (Ellen) and daughter, KK, of Orlando, FL and Mark of Nineveh, IN; two sisters, Barbara (Pat) Ropp of Scottsbluff, NE and Joanne Bennett of Veedersburg, IN; two granddaughters, Melissa Rick of Mountain View, CA and Rebecca Rick of Salt Lake City, UT; a number of nieces and nephews; and a great friend, Mrs. Diana Hampton of Pittsboro, IN.

She was a graduate of Lakeview School of Nursing in Danville, IL, later elected to its Hall of Fame; graduate of Indiana State University, and received her masters in nursing education from Indiana University.

She loved the poetry of Robert Frost, especially Birches
It is believed that Sue was the first nurse speaker, and only the second female speaker, for the Lakeview nursing graduation, in the history of the school dating to 1894.

As a mother, she was especially fond of swinging her sons in tire swings at home. Son, Reagan, was always exclaiming, higher, Mom, higher, near Rileysburg, IN.
Another delight was shopping or doing anything with our precious granddaughters.

She had said that one of her most meaningful venture was when she and her husband were going to a Krannert musical and beforehand, went to the large Methodist Church on the University of Illinois campus. There were only the two of us as we knelt at the altar. Those moments were a reverence for our faith.

Her favorite place in nature was Turkey Run State Park where Jim and I would seek out such beautiful flowers as blood roots, celandine poppies, Virginia bluebells and pussy toes.

Sue taught Sunday School for years at Covington Methodist Church. Her favorite verse: 1Corinthians 13:13 faith, hope and charity (love); these three, and the greatest of these is charity.

Her nursing work included treating the poor at Cook County Hospital in Chicago; treating the poor near Trenton, TN; clinic nurse in the first intensive care unit at Lakeview, teaching at Lakeview School of Nursing, Infection Control Nurse at the VA Hospital in Danville, and director of Home Based Patient Care at the VA Hospital, and finally, Parish nursing.

In 2002 she came down with the rate liver ailment, primary sclerosing cholangitis.

After two years treatment, and being down to 82 pounds, she was asked if she wanted a liver transplant, but she said, No, Jesus has given me a good life and I shouldnt ask for more.

But Dr. Joseph Tector, lead transplant surgeon at Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis, gradually convinced her of its worth and success rate. She was on the waiting list a mere 11 days when she received the transplant on September 21, 2004.

Most recently, greatly fatigued, Sue was put on a hospice program of care.

Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 P. M. EDT Monday April 11, 2016 at Shelby Funeral Home, Covington with memorial services at 7:00 P. M. Burial will be private at a later date. Condolences to the family: www.shelbyfuneralhome.com. Visitation

Shelby Funeral Home

Monday, April 11, 2016 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM 622 3rd Street
Covington, Indiana 47932 Directions Memorial Services

Shelby Funeral Home

Monday, April 11, 2016 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM 622 3rd Street
Covington, Indiana 47932 Directions
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