of Allegan. Age 97. Emma was born March 17, 1914, in Grand Rapids, the daughter of the late Niels "Nels" and Ellen Marie "Mary" (Jensen) Christensen. Emma passed away on December 24 at Maplewood of Sandy Creek in Wayland. Her childhood days were spent in Trufant, Michigan and she graduated from Ionia High School in 1931. Emma lovingly raised her family in Ionia and later moved to Kalamazoo where she worked for Gilmore Brothers as an auditor. Emma retired in 1983 as office manager and bookkeeper from the Allegan County Resource Development Committee, Inc. Her family will remember Emma as a loving mother and grandmother. Emma touched the lives of many with humor, kindness and a caring nature. She enjoyed reading, gardening, dancing, baking delicious goodies and a good card game or yahtzee. Family members include her children and stepchildren; Terry (Jill) Pickens, Mary Besson, Walt (Judy) Peacock, Bob (Jo Anne) Pickens, Linda (Gary) Shimmel, Sandy Gilliland, Art (Nancy) Peacock, Al (Shirley) Peacock, her grandchildren and other extended family. Preceding her in death were her husbands; Tom "T. J." Pickens and Albert "Joe" Peacock; her daughter, Betty Beck; a grandson, Robert "Bob" Peacock; her son-in-law, Merl Besson; her brother and sister-in-law, Hans and Carmen (Gladding) Christensen and nephew, Wesley Christensen. In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place and a family memorial will be held on a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Wings of Hope Hospice, 530 Linn Street, Suite A, Allegan, Michigan. Arrangements by Gorden Funeral Residence, Allegan Chapel.