Rose Carolyn Nissen

Rose was born to Jack and Tracy Hickey on their family farm east of Hennessey, Oklahoma.  She attended a rural school for grades one and two before her family moved to town.  Rose finished grade school and attended high school in Hennessey.  After graduation from Hennessey High School in 1951, Rose attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, graduating in 1955.  

Rose began her career in Clovis, New Mexico, where she taught English for two years.  From there, she moved to Winston, Oregon where she taught English for one year.  While there, she met Ray Nissen of Minot, North Dakota.  Ray was teaching social studies in Winston.  A courtship ensued and Rose and Ray were married in Hennessey, Oklahoma on August 5, 1959.

Next, Rose and Ray taught in Deming, New Mexico, where their son, Bob, was born in 1960.  In 1962, the Nissens moved to Oklahoma to be near family.  They taught in Perry Public Schools for 24 years.  Rose taught piano lessons from her Perry home for many years.  She was also active in the Saint Rose of Lima parish, playing the organ at Masses, weddings, and funerals.  Rose taught high school English before completing her Master's Degree in Library Science from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma.  Rose was the librarian at Perry High School until she and Ray retired in 1986.  

Upon retiring, Rose and Ray purchased a motorhome.  They enjoyed traveling across the country for ten years.  Following their motorhome years, they spent many winters at Alamo Rose Resort in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, John and Teresa Ludwig Hickey; her brothers, Billy and Henry; and her sisters, Eileen and Mary.  She is survived by her devoted husband, Ray; her son, Bob and wife Vicky; her grandsons, Drew and wife Elizabeth, Ben and wife Paige, and Alex; and great-grandsons, Robin and Jack.

                                                                Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure,

                                                        You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.

A Celebration of Life for Rose Nissen will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Perry with a Rosary to begin at 9:30 A.M. and a Funeral Mass to immediately follow at 10:00 A.M. 

Family requests that donations in Rose's memory be made to Perry Carnegie Library, Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Perry, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.