Arden Elizabeth Ramey Atkinson of Traverse City, Michigan (formerly of Okemos and of Bellaire, Texas) passed away on Thursday, May 18. Arden was born to Clara Nell Wells and Roy Arden Ramey on September 15, 1946 in Houston, Texas. She was awarded a bachelor's of nursing from Texas Woman's University in 1968 and worked in Orthopedics at Houston Methodist Hospital, ICU at St. David's Medical Center in Austin, Good Samaritan in Cincinnati, and pediatrics at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. She then spent 25 years as a health educator teaching prepared childbirth and infant care classes.

On July 18, 1969, she married Tom Atkinson in Texas. They had two children, Alline and Thomas Winfield. For 37 years the family made their home in East Lansing and Okemos. After retiring, they moved in 2009 to Traverse City. Besides her family, some of her greatest loves were gardening, quilting and sewing, cooking, bird watching, history, and care of the natural environment. Arden's faith was strong and she devoted time to many ministries of Traverse City Central United Methodist Church. Throughout her life, she was blessed by many close friendships that she actively kept even when distances were great.

Arden is survived by her beloved husband, children, son-in-law Dan, her daughter-in-law Yue, and her grandchildren Claire, Eliza, Freddie, and Charlotte. She is also survived by her brother, Fred, by sisters-in-law Edie, Mary, and Tempe, and by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by brothers-in-law Dan and Phil.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial donations to the Central United Methodist Church Outreach Breakfast Program or Justice for Our Neighbors Michigan.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 25 from 5-7 at Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Memorial service will be at Central United Methodist Church at 2:00 on Friday, May 26 with visitation an hour prior to the service at the church. A reception will follow in the church Fellowship Hall.