Beatrice "Beatie" Irene Erickson

January 1, 1924 - February 12, 2022

Beatrice (Beatie) Irene Davis Erickson (January 1, 1924 - February 12, 2022). Beatie Erickson was born in Traverse City, Michigan on January 1, 1924. She attended local elementary schools, graduated from Traverse City Central High School and attended Northwestern Michigan College. On March 9, 1946, she married John W. Erickson at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Traverse City, Michigan. Beatie and John raised five children: Nancy, Janet, Anne, John and Bill. Beatie was employed by Michigan Bell Telephone Company as a Manager. She retired on February 17, 1980, with twenty-seven years of service. She and her husband co-owned Eric Acres Orchards in Bingham, Michigan growing cherries, apples, peaches, pears and plums. They also co-owned a Cessna 140 airplane which they enjoyed. Beatie belonged to the Elk Lodge #2349 of Apache Junction, Arizona, Telephone Pioneers of America, Traverse Bay United Methodist Church, Traverse City, Michigan, and Desert Chapel Methodist Church, Apache Junction, Arizona. Beatie and John were co-founders of the West Bay Covenant Church in Traverse City, Michigan. During World War II, she belonged to the United Service Organization. Beatie and John spent winters in Apache Junction, Arizona and summers in Traverse City, Michigan at Eric Acres Orchards. Her favorite activities were being with family and friends, sports especially watching her favorite Arizona teams, music greatly enjoying her piano, accordion, and pump organ, traveling, and playing cards especially a boisterous game of Euchre. During high school, she was an outstanding athlete winning three Women’s Varsity letters. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John W. Erickson, Sr., two infant children, her parents, Hilton and Alice (Smith) Davis, sister Marian A. Barrett, brother James H. Davis, nephew Tom Davis, and niece Susan Davis. Surviving are her children, Nancy (Nasser) Erickson Ferdows, Janet (John) Erickson, Anne (Christian) Clark, John (Janise) Erickson, Bill Erickson, grandchildren Farah (Kevin) Painter, James (Audrea) Neville, Jenny (Will) Hooker, Sarah (Mark) Diaz, Cassandra Clark, Ian Erickson, Elizabeth Erickson, Russ Juplo, great grandchildren Bryson Hooker, Rielyn Hooker, Liam Hooker, Emersyn Neville, Nicholas Diaz, Christopher Diaz and London Painter and her dear brother Richard Davis. She adored her grand and great grandchildren. Her favorite nickname for each of them was “doll baby”. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Make a Wish Foundation or planting a tree or shrub in her honor. The funeral will be held at West Bay Covenant Church in Greilickville later in the spring.