Frances Nichols' Obituary
In loving memory of Frances Ona Nichols
January 8, 1939 - December 14, 2023
Frances Ona Nichols, 84, peacefully passed away on December 14, 2023, at her home in Nashville, TN, surrounded by family. She is remembered by her loved ones as a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend, a lifelong teacher, an avid traveler, and a faithful member of her congregation.
Born in Filer, Idaho, on January 8, 1939, to parents Emma and Thomas Timbers, she graduated from Glenns Ferry High School in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, in 1957 and from Idaho State University in 1961. After college, she met Virgil Nichols at church in San Francisco, and they married in Sacramento in 1963. Over the course of 25 years of marriage, Frances and Virgil built their family in homes in California, Idaho, New Jersey, and Tennessee. Virgil passed away in 1993 in Memphis.
Frances began her career as a business teacher, later working as a librarian and teaching English as a second language. Her passion for education touched the lives of many.
A spirited traveler, Frances found solace in exploring the world. Behind the wheel of her mighty motorhome, "The Shasta," she crisscrossed all 50 states. By plane, train, and sea, she ventured around the globe, with each journey marking a chapter in the story of a fully lived life. Fran's wanderlust was infectious, and her tales of discovery and adventure ignited the imaginations of those fortunate enough to share in her experiences.
She had a creative soul. From quilting to watercolor and needlepoint, Frances loved to create, spending hours in her crafting room, a place where her creativity knew no bounds, and art brought her immeasurable happiness. She brought beauty into the world through her hands and heart, weaving stories into the fabric, capturing the essence of landscapes with strokes of paint, and creating intricate designs with every stitch.
Frances is survived by her children, Katherine and Mark; grandchildren, Emma Kate and Isobel Rose; sisters Eileen Hitesman and Patricia Morrison; and sister-in-law, Patricia Nichols.
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