Montezuma - Our dear sister and auntie, Grace Ann Nightingale, was born on November 20, 1966 to John and Ella Mae (Koehn) Nightingale at Chickasha, Oklahoma. She peacefully departed this life on December 26, 2023, at her home in Montezuma.

"Gracie" was the youngest of four siblings and was a happy child. As a small child she loved to be pulled in our little red wagon and we enjoyed giving her a ride. When Grace was three years old she innocently walked in a pasture that had accidently been sprayed with an agricultural insecticide a few hours earlier. That over-exposure almost took her life and left lifetime effects. Her childhood years included numerous hospital stays in which she formed friendships with her doctors and nurses.

Grace attended public schools in Verden and Hydro, Oklahoma. She graduated from eighth grade at Plainview Mennonite School, at Chickasha, Oklahoma. Grace accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on October 15, 1978 by Minister Chester Koehn. Christian life was very important to Grace and she always wanted to be at peace with God. She seemed to feel an urgency to be ready at all times with her numerous brushes with death. Grace had a strong faith in prayer and often requested us as a family to pray for her.

Grace moved with her parents to Hydro, Oklahoma in 1994. While living at Hydro, she took employment as a cook at a local Nursing Home. In December of 1996, she moved to Montezuma to live with her sister Carol. She began working at Bethel Home as a cook and for a number of years she was the Dietary Manger. After a few years, she was relieved to leave those responsibilities to others and again focus on cooking, something she enjoyed. Grace loved to try new recipes and cook, which was evidenced by the many cookbooks she had.

Grace dealt with numerous health issues. After a period of time on dialysis, Grace received a transplanted kidney in March of 2012. This gave her a new lease on life. She enjoyed relatively good health until November of 2020 when she contracted Covid. This began a journey of a long extended hospital stays in which her transplanted kidney failed. After several times of extended illness, the ministers and deacons of her congregation met with Grace and Carol in their home for a special prayer. The prayer request was for healing and "a little more time". The Lord graciously granted that request. Grace always had a strong determination to live life and courageously faced many challenges. She seldom complained and with the Lord's help tried to accept her circumstances in life.

Grace touched many people with her life. She loved to travel. Grace and Carol enjoyed visiting their nieces in their places of Voluntary Service at Gallup, New Mexico and Samara, Russia. Grace loved her nieces and nephew and great nieces and nephews and they in turn loved her unconditionally. We all were looking forward to the time when Grace and Carol could move to Idaho; closer to family. The Lord had other plans and Grace moved instead to the heavenly realms. We as her family are thankful she is resting, "beyond the shadows that have followed [her] so long". We look forward to meeting her in heaven.

Those left to cherish her memory are two sisters: Carol Nightingale of Montezuma; Evelyn and husband, Verle Koehn of  Princeton, Idaho; one brother, David Nightingale and wife, Judy of New Plymouth, Idaho; three nieces, Niki and husband Mitchell Toews, and their children, Adelyn, Sophia, and Samuel of Glenn, California, Ande and husband Verle Boese and their children, Bailey and Karson of Princeton, Idaho, and Charla and husband Isaac Kresek and their children, Lily, Hannah, and Jennalee of Tonasket, Washington; one nephew, Mahlon Nightingale and wife Julia and their children, Lenna, Tyler and Janessa of Fruitland, Idaho. Preceding her in death were her parents, John and Ella Mae Nightingale; her step- mother, Mary Ann Nightingale; paternal grandparents, Alfred and Ida Nightingale; and maternal grandparents, David and Matilda Koehn.

Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church, Copeland on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Sam Unruh, Steve Unruh, and Ryan Nightingale presiding.  Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Cemetery.  Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.