Mary Nichols (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Mary Frances Nichols, daughter of Hugh and Zara Hamby Gourley, was born August 3, 1927, near Mountain Grove, Missouri. She departed this life Friday, December 19, 2014, in Christian Health and Rehabilitation Center South, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-seven years, four months, and seventeen days.
On August 7, 1948, she was united in marriage to Ralph Edward Nichols, and to this union two daughters were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph, on August 15, 2001; and a brother, William John Gourley.
Mary is survived by two daughters, Kathy Eichmeyer, and her husband, Dale, of Lebanon, Missouri, and Mary Agee, and her husband, Dean, of Fair Grove, Missouri; two grandchildren, Stephanie Eichmeyer, and her fiancé, Doug Finley, of South Amboy, New Jersey, and Greg Eichmeyer, and his wife, Kayla, of Battlefield, Missouri; a great-grandson, Cooper Eichmeyer, of Battlefield, Missouri; a brother, Donald Gourley, and his wife, Mildred, of Oakland, Tennessee; two sisters, Carol Luellen, of Millington, Tennessee, and Jane Rippee, and her husband, Bobby, of Williston, Tennessee; a sister-in-law, Lena Sanchez, and her husband, Ken, of Ozark, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born and raised in the Mountain Grove, Missouri area, and graduated from Mountain Grove High School. Her brother introduced her to her future husband, Ralph, and soon after they were married. Mary attended Southwest Baptist University where she earned her Associates Degree and then later her Bachelors Degree. She began teaching in Van Buren, Missouri, and then after she and Ralph were married, they made their home in the Lebanon area, while Ralph worked at Independent Stave Company and Mary taught school. She also was a devoted homemaker to her husband and daughters. She taught in a rural school for a few years, and then taught kindergarten and second grade at Joel E. Barber School until retiring.
Mary professed her faith in Christ early in her life and was a longtime member of Second Baptist Church in Lebanon.
In her spare time she enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, playing cards with her church friends, and working on scrapbooks. She was especially interested in trains and lighthouses. Her family was very important to her and she greatly enjoyed family gatherings. She was very steadfast in her convictions and liked to speak her mind.
Mary was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she created for them during her eighty-seven years.
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