Katie grew up on a farm, graduating from Elizabethtown High School, Elizabethtown, KY, in 1942. She attended Campbellsville Baptist College, Campbellsville, KY, for two years. She worked as a stenographer at Ft. Knox during the rest of WWII and for three years after the war. It was during the time following the war that she met her future husband, John W. Nichols. They were married in Elizabethtown, KY, January 24, 1947.
Katie was raised in a Christian home and became a Christian at the age of 13. She was active in the Severn Valley Baptist Church, Elizabethtown which prepared her for the call into the ministry alongside her husband. She never preached sermons as such but her life was a tremendous sermon. Katie was a gentle, kind, loving person, a great wife and mother and servant of the Lord. She taught Sunday school classes for over 50 years and worked often behind the scene with her husband who served as Director of Missions for Nevada Baptist Association for 25 years. She served the Baptist churches of Vernon and Cedar counties in a number of ways.
All three of the Nichols children, Carol Jean Nichols, James M. Nichols, and John S. Nichols, graduated from Nevada High School and from the University of Missouri.
During the over 50 years in Nevada, Katie worked 21 years at the Nevada State Hospital as a stenographer. She also was active in the Garden Club, at the Bloodmobile, in raising three children, and keeping her husband on course. She was an avid photographer. She has been a member of little Sylvan Dale Baptist Church since 1962.
Survivors include, three children: Carol J. Nichols of Durham, North Carolina; James M. Nichols and wife Marilyn of Nevada; and John S. Nichols and wife Melissa, of the Philippines: six grandchildren: Allison L. Smith and husband Jeremy of Eureka, MO, Lori A. Schurle and husband Joe of Kansas City, MO, Andrea Wilson, Plano, TX, Cameron Nichols, and Elyse Nichols of Austin, TX, and Chase Nichols of the Philippines; five great grandchildren: Carson Smith, Maison Smith, Knox Smith of Eureka, MO, Walker Schurle and EJ Schurle of Kansas City, MO; and her sister-in-law, Jane Grimes, Elizabethtown, KY; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband John W. Nichols, two brothers Stanley Stark, Alvin Stark, and her three sisters Clara Howell, Ethel Lovell and Aileen Conner.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at Calvary Baptist Church in Nevada with Rev. Hubert Fox officiating. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park in Nevada. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service.
In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to Morningside of Nevada in c/o Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada, MO, 64772.
