Bernice Steadman, 89, one of NASA's first female trainee astronauts, died on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at her Traverse City home. Steadman even after countless personal and professional obstacles spent her life soaring through the sky.

Steadman was one of a handful of women who were selected for consideration as a member of NASA's space program, In the 1960s. She was also one of the few who passed the rigorous Mercury Program medical examinations.

But Steadman was not able to get a chance to train for space as NASA abandoned the idea of female astronauts.

She was one of the first women who have received an Airline Transport Rating, the highest honor a pilot can receive and has also earned countless awards, including the Michigan Outstanding Pilot Award from the Michigan Aeronautics Commission.

Steadman's Rudyard, Michigan, home got burned to the ground when she was just an infant, and her father sacrificed his life while trying to save her sisters and brother. The tragedy had a massive impact on her life, but she refused to let it ruin her and never gave up.

Steadman's husband said, "She always felt like she had to do something. She strived to be the best because she was the survivor," her husband said. She dedicated her life to them".

When Steadman was young, she moved to Flint, where she completed her graduation from Flint Central High School and worked on a spark plug inspection line. She always had a dream of being in the sky.

In order to change her dream into reality, Steadman saved sufficient money for flying lessons and with time earned her pilot's license. She never had even a driver's license.

In spite of lack of respect and opportunity for female aviators, Bernice remained focused and went on to become one of the best.