Mary E. Dickover

Mary Dickover (nee Jackson), 99, died Sunday, October 6, 2019 at IU Tipton Hospital.  She was born in Tipton on June 17, 1920 to Rosa (Pearson) and Garrett Jackson.  She married Kenneth Dickover on July 3, 1938.  He preceded her in death on January 9, 2002, but an abundance of family and friends carry on their love.

Affectionately known as “Nonny”, Mary was the consummate farm wife, helping create the family legacy known as Dickover Farms.  Nonny embodied the meaning of Love and Grace.  There was never a person who came to her door that wasn’t offered a meal and a conversation.  Holidays found many around the table who were not related by blood but were still welcomed as family.  Caregiving for friends and family became her calling in life.

Even though Mary left high school to get married, common in the 1930s, she was an amazingly intelligent woman, always reading and seeking to know God and this world better.  She was a member of Hobbs Christian Church until it closed and now West Street Christian Church.  She passed her love of God and of learning to her family.  She had a quick wit and a ready smile, keeping those around her in check with gentle yet meaningful messages.

Next to family and friends, Nonny loved IU basketball, much to the chagrin of family who attended Purdue University.  Her grandson-in-law called her each game day to provide game time and channel, so she rarely missed a game.

Once welcomed as part of Nonny’s family, you are always part of her family.  She is survived by her daughter, Linda Leininger, daughter-in-law, Karen McConnell Dickover, and special friends Dave and Kathy Zeigler Williams, all of Tipton.

Nonny’s special chocolate cake receipt was a favorite of her grandkids.  If you were extra special when she made it, you’d get to lick the icing spoon.  Grandchildren include: Larrinda Ploughe Wolf (David Wolf), Michael Dickover (Pamela Odle Dickover), Leslie Ploughe VanOverberghe (Tim VanOverberghe), Corinne Dickover Spray (Bryan Spray), Susan Dickover Richeson (Kurt Richeson), Allison Satchwill Johnson (Adam Johnson), Marcia Leininger Sigman (Brian Sigman), Lisa Leininger Pfeiffer, Jill Leininger Craft (Jim), Laura Leininger Sottong (Bill Sottong), Matt Leininger (Jen Leininger) and Brent Bass.

Nonny is also survived by great grandchildren:  Heather Spray (Sean Davenport), Holly Spray Woodruff (Nick Woodruff), Olivia Dickover Hoover (Jonathan Hoover), Stesha Williams Redmond (Logan Redmond), Thaddeus VanOverberghe, Abigail Dickover, Graham Richeson, Emmalie VanOverberghe, Kiera Bass, Celia Richeson, Hayden, Kyra and Danielle Johnson, Lisa Wolf Bowen (Matt Bowen), Dana Wolf, Matt Wolf, Wil and Dan Sigman, Eric Pfeiffer, Alexandra Craft Sheps, Kate and Jack Craft, Dion, Joe and Meagan Leininger, Melanie and Evan Harris (That Pesky Kid),  and Meghan Sottong.  Great, great-grandchildren include Raegan Spray, Jayden and Kyler Davenport, Ethan and Meghan Woodruff, Jaxson and Carson Bowen, Abram and Roman Leininger.

She is also survived by nieces Kathi Jackson Scott (Brian Scott) and Rhonda Jackson, plus a host of extended family.

Preceding her in death include her husband, parents, son Bernard “Allen” Dickover, son-in-law Vernon Leininger, brothers Raymond Clyde “Jack” Jackson and his wife Twyla, Bernard Allen “Buddy” Jackson, Charles Lee “Tod” Jackson, niece Dana Jackson O’Neill and nephew Michael Jackson.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 14 at West Street Christian Church with Rev. Cindy Ploughe presiding.  Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Tipton.  Visitation will be from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at Young – Nichols Funeral Home and from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Monday at the church.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to West Street Christian Church, 132 N. West Street, Tipton, Indiana, 46072 or Destino del Reino (Niece, Rhonda Jackson’s Honduran Children’s Mission), PO Box 814, Evans, Georgia, 30809 or  https://destinodelreino.org/support-destino/donate/