Denice Rose Linn-Galloway (Baker), 85, Ligonier, passed away peacefully at her family farm surrounded by her loving family Friday, March 18, 2016.

She was born Sept. 9, 1930, the loving daughter of Russell and Helen (Ponko) Baker, Noble County.

A proud graduate from Cromwell High School in 1949, Denice quickly began a lifelong career in nursing. She began her training for one year at the Cleveland Carnegie Institute as a medical assistant. In 1950, she went on to complete a four-year degree in nursing from Indiana University. With one additional year to complete her clinical rotation, she graduated in 1955 with her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Her professional timeline from 1955 through 1997 began in the Albion Clinic, where she was a receptionist for two years. Following that, she taught surgical nursing for two years at Parkview. Whitley County Memorial Hospital had the skill set of Denice for 15 years; 10 of those years, she spent as the director of nursing and she is known to have established the coronary care unit as well as the respiratory therapy department and trained the EMTs.

She went on to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital for one year, where she taught nurses how to care for patients with diabetes, as well as teaching the patients how to handle and care for their own condition. An additional 15 years was spent at the McCray Memorial Hospital which happens to be Denice’s favorite place of employment, where her nursing position was as a Critical Care Unit Nurse.

Mrs. Galloway’s 42 years of nursing experience will never be forgotten.

On July 22, 1953, Denice married Boyd B. Linn and they had three children: Dennis, Lisa and Marcy. After the death of her first husband, Boyd, she married Lowell Galloway Aug. 31, 1972. They together had one son, Lorne Galloway.

From birth to time of death, many years were spent farming in Ligonier. Denice always found time to enjoy her love of gardening, crafting, knitting, embroidery, reading and listening to books on CD, teaching Sunday school, sitting on numerous church committees as well as the Wolf Lake Auxiliary VFW 4717.

There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that she loved her kids and spending time with family. They would camp, travel and comb the beach for driftwood, shells and rocks. Denice was also a lifelong member of the Sparta United Church of Christ, where she happens to have been the very first child baptized in the new building.

Denice will be tremendously missed by her children: Dennis Linn, Lisa McClanahan, Marcy (Jeff) Coe and Lorne (Laura) Galloway; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy McFarren; sisters-in-law: Rosemary Gillespie and Rosanne Lackey; and brothers-in-law: Raymond Lackey and Charles Buell.

Denice is welcomed into everlasting life by her first husband, Boyd Linn; both of her parents: Helen and Russell Baker; brother-in-law, Max McFarren; brother; Donald Gillespie; son-in-law, Bob McClanahan; and second husband, Lowell Galloway.

A funeral service will be held in Mrs. Galloway’s honor at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, at Sparta United Church of Christ, Kimmell, with Rev. Wray McCalester and Pastor Richard Rensner officiating. Burial will be in Sparta Cemetery in Kimmell.

There will be a time of visitation from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at Yeager Funeral Home, Ligonier, and 10-11 a.m. at the church Wednesday, March 23.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Sparta United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 85, 2584 North U.S. 33, Kimmell, IN 46760.