Obituary of Gay Nichols

Gay (Joni) Richmond Nichols
December 13, 1934-June 3, 2022

 

Gay (Joni) Nichols was an amazing women that showered her family and friends with love,
compassion and grace. The name Gay was a beautiful description, for she was full of Joy and
laughter with the most beautiful smile! She was introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ by her
precious cousin Shirley Hughes. Gay had a sparkle in her eyes that would shine to every
person she met, She was one of the most courageous women and lived her life through these
words “Dont give up, keep on asking, knocking, seeking and moving forward. Let God’s
goodness shine in me and through me.” She lived and loved through the word of God “Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you. Matthew 7:12”

Gay (Joni) Nichols was a precious soul who lived and loved life. She was an inspiration to
everyone she met, a true shining light to all, with God’s grace and compassion, she truly loved
to share her faith and the majesty of her Savior. She left us peacefully and joined into the
presence of her loving Lord and Savior on June 3, 2022 at her home in Lake Oswego Oregon
surrounded by family and friends.

Gay was born in Colorado Springs Colorado on December 13,1934 to Alice Eva and James
Edwin Richmond. She adored her twin brothers James Terry Richmond and John Gary
Richmond (both deceased), who were 10 years younger than her. She was not only a loving
sister and friend to them, she was also a surrogate mom due to her mothers health issues. She
had an amazing Aunt Melissa Houser (deceased) who was her second mom and she was very
close to her cousins Shirley Hughes (deceased), Beverly McWhorter (deceased) and Jerry
Houser (deceased) who were like brother and sisters. There were many other beloved
cousins, nieces and nephews that she cared about and prayed for continually.

Gay married her next door neighbor, Donald Austin Nichols on January 22, 1955 in Denver
Colorado, they were together for 67 wonderful years. She was a loving and incredible mother to
Jeffrey Alan Nichols, Victoria Ann Hollen, Kathryn Irene Fredrickson (Kevin) and Charles
Edward Nichols (Traci). She is grandmother to 7: Shawna Fischer (Andy), Richmond Hollen
(Juliana), Marissa Dyer (Austen), Kamilah Wendland (Kevin), Kyle Fredrickson (Kaitlin), Jordan
Nichols and Jayden Nichols and the great grandmother to Marita Fischer, Richmond Fischer,
Jaxon Dyer and Maverick Dyer. She leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and Joy.
Gay started her career after graduating high school at AT&T in Denver Colorado as a clerk/typist
and received a promotion to personal assistant. She worked there until 1956 after which she
dedicated herself to raising a family. She returned to the workforce in 1973 in various customer
service positions, she loved working with people and her goal was making them smile and feel
special. Her favorite job was selling furniture where she loved helping people design their living
space, her life was making others feel comfortable and at home.

Her spiritual life, her faith, guided her. She was involved in numerous faith based activities
including: senior visitation (ongoing throughout her life), helping with church maintenance,
Luther league, Sunday school, Stevens ministry, JIF, Bible Study, ABC Quilts, Greenridge Bible
Study (leading a study for seniors), BSF as both a member and a leader.

She took special joy in keeping her house clean and comfortable, and her yard well kept. She
learned from her father to make work fun, she would whistle and dance while working which
was contagious to others. Her dad taught her to start with the edges and the corners and she
kept that thought through her entire life, not just with cleaning but with her soul! She loved
going on walks, she loved arranging flowers, seeing nature, watching birds and God’s beautiful
creatures. Travel was part of her life, Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, Florida,
Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Canada and Mexico. She loved to play games such as bridge
(in many bridge clubs) and yahtzee which were her favorites. She loved to go to concerts and
Billy Graham crusades. Of course the most important hobby was always Bible study.

A private memorial service will be held at her home on July 10th 2022 at 3pm by Pastor Susan
Graham.

In lieu of flowers, in memory of Gay (Joni) Nichols please donate to the Bob Sanders Memorial
fund at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church https://onrealm.org/LakeGrovePresby/-/form/give/now
and/or the Portland Rescue Mission https://give.portlandrescuemission.org