Nadine Akins went home to Heaven on Christmas Eve which couldn’t have been more perfect for her. Mom loved the holidays and would spend many days making candy, fudge, divinity, peanut brittle, and other goodies for her family, friends, and neighbors.
Nadine was born in Lamar, MO on January 11, 1939 to Charlie and Georgia Butler. She was the third in line of 13 children and in the mid 1950’s they moved to Yakima, WA to work in the fruit industry.
Nadine married James Akins on September 27, 1957 and they eventually made their home in Naches where mom lived in the same house for over 52 years. Mom was an apple packer in the earlier years and a homemaker that loved to garden and bird watch, especially hummingbirds. She was famous for her crocheting and all friends and family were given gifts of her talents. She made a baby blanket for anyone expecting and they were treasured gifts.
On all holidays, you could expect 30-plus people for dinner and Mom was famous for her Bunny Cake at Easter. On each Sunday, it wouldn’t be unusual to have 15 people come for dinner. Also, several “Grass Parties” (BBQ’s) were held outside in the summer, especially when family from Kentucky, Missouri, and Arkansas, would come to visit. James and Nadine’s home became the family hub because they had lived in the same house for so long. It was always a friendly and welcoming environment for any and all.
James and Nadine loved to go fishing and camping at Conrad Meadows and channel cat fishing at Ice Harbor Dam in the Tri-Cities. Their friends, Pete and Polly Clark, Monroe and Lorraine Tester, and brother-in-law, Joe and Earlene Akins would usually come along. They had 50 acres of hay with horses and cattle so their excursions were always great times as they didn’t get away very often. Unfortunately, James passed away suddenly in 1994 which changed her life drastically. Mom never learned to drive so her children were a huge blessing in helping with her daily chores and shopping.
Mom made several trips back to Missouri to visit her family through the years. One of her most adventurous and loved trips was on a Caribbean Cruise with her sister and their spouses.
Nadine is survived by 5 children, CoEllen Yeager, Steve and Julie Akins, Barb and Dan Sperry, Stacy and Cathy Akins, Tracy Flowers, and John Morrison, her beloved grandchildren, Dustin, Jake, Decan, Justin, Tyler, James, Xander, Andrew, Aidan, Dan, Trisha, Jessica, Shay, Jessie, and Ashley, and her siblings, Emma Akins, Charlene Moore, Don Butler, Sue Liggons, Jerry Butler, Linda Hunt, Connie Phillips, and Peggy Doyle.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James, parents, Charlie and Georgia Butler, siblings, Edith Issacs, Mary Moore, Fred Butler, Gene Butler, and grandson, CJ Withers.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 11:00 am at Shaw & Sons Funeral Home (201 N. 2nd St., Yakima, WA 98901) followed by a Graveside Service at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com.
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