Ronna “Marie” (Blackstone) Grace

April 25, 1968 – January 26, 2025

Ronna “Marie” (Blackstone) Grace, 56, Sheridan, passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at IU North Hospital in Carmel. Born April 25, 1968, in Noblesville, she was the daughter of Ronald Dean “Ronnie” Blackstone and Dena M Beard.

She was a 1986 graduate of Marion-Adams High School and a member of the Sheridan First Christian Church.

For 20 years, Marie worked as a CNA, beginning her career at Sheridan Health Care and Rehabilitation, before moving to Harbour Manor in Noblesville. During her years in healthcare, her patients became her extended family. She was not only a caregiver, but also an advocate and friend.

Marie put more love into the world than most people could in multiple lifetimes. And that love was always focused on those she loved most in this world … her family. She loved movie nights with the family, just as much as suffering through another Colts game with her husband because “she loved him so.” But when it came to the grandkids, everything else took a back seat.

Marie made sure to have a little fun along life’s journey. She enjoyed singing and dancing, and loved just about any game you could get her to play, especially Yahtzee and music trivia. She loved her leather purses and handbags, as well as her favorite perfume by Clinique, Happy. Going out to eat with the family was always a special treat, and if the destination was O’Charley’s or Rio Grande, that always made it better. Adding new things to her Holstein dairy cow collection really made Marie happy. If it was cow-related, she had the perfect spot for it. Although her collection of memorabilia was impressive, she always felt that if she could have had a baby cow wandering around in her backyard, then her collection might have come close to being perfect.

Marie leaves a legacy of love and compassion and a lasting imprint on the hearts of all who knew her. She led by example, showing her family that bravery, strength, and hard work are just as important as trust and forgiveness, and to always be willing to give more than you receive.

Marie is survived by her loving husband, David Allen Grace. She and David were married on January 4, 2003. Also surviving is her mother, Dena M Beard; son, Ethan Brooks Blackstone (fiancée, Logan Elizabeth) of Sheridan; three daughters, Lauren Marie Frank of Kokomo, Natalie Elizabeth Frank of Sheridan, and Megan Michelle Frank (Allen) of Sheridan; “bonus daughter” and friend, Anita Johnson; grandchildren, Isabelle Marie Frank, Brookston Lee Blackstone, Amelia Grace Cole, and Benjamin Mackenzie Smith-Frank; sister, Jama L. Barker (Steven) of Sheridan; nieces and nephews, Lydia, Elliot, Gideon, Emma, Lilli, and many other nieces, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins; and her precious furbabies, Mitzy, Miles, and Ronnie.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ronald Dean “Ronnie” Blackstone; maternal grandparents, Brooks and Opal Beard; paternal grandparents, Charles “Gene” and Margaret Blackstone; great-grandmother, Bessie Beard; cousin, Autumn Danae; and her best friend, Wendy Forbush.

A celebration of Marie’s life will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Christ Tabernacle Church, 1600 W. 236th St., Sheridan, with visitation from 3 p.m. until the time of service. Pastor Rich Barker will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be presented to Kercheval Funeral Home, P.O. Box 42, Sheridan, IN 46069, to help with funeral expenses.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kercheval Funeral Home in Sheridan.

Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com