of Sterling, AK

April 27, 2009

Sterling resident, Mary Ann Nicholson, 85, died Monday, April 27, 2009 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 9, 2009 at the Barren Fork Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant, Arkansas. Graveside services will follow at the Barren Fork Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her husband. Memorial services will be held at the Sterling Baptist Church in Sterling, Alaska at a later date.

Mrs. Nicholson was born February 15, 1924 to Robert Ewing and Mary Olive (Shirley) Evans in Mt. Pleasant, Arkansas. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School and attended Arkansas College in Batesville, AR. She married the love of her life, Duane Nicholson on October of 1945 in Pixley, CA. She and Duane lived and worked in Pixley for approximately 39 years. After retirement in 1984, she and Duane moved to Sterling, Alaska and built their home. Duane died in 1990 and Mary Ann remained in Sterling until her death.

Mary Ann held many jobs over the years including teaching, shipyard work in Houston, TX during WWII, telephone operator, bookkeeper and owner of a small gift and hobby shop. She and Duane were very busy in the United Brethren Church in Pixley as well as Sunday school teacher, church treasurer, plus many other duties. Mary Ann loved the beautiful land of Alaska and enjoyed working with her flowers. She was quite the sports advocate and loved watching college and national sports events. She loved hunting in her younger years as well as fishing.

Mrs. Nicholson was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her sister, Margie Spalinger of Bakersfield, CA; brother, J.T. Evans of Mt. Pleasant, Arkansas; sons and daughters in-law, Larry and Sonya Nicholson of Sterling, AK and Dennis and Carolyn Nicholson of Farmington, NM; grandchildren, Shane and Kendra Nicholson of Sitka, AK; Blake and Shani Nicholson of Salt Lake City, UT, Reid and Jennifer McMillan of Morro Bay, CA and Morgan and Danelle Nicholson of Colorado Springs, CO; three great-grandchildren, Ashleigh and Trenton Nicholson both of Sitka, AK and Hunter McMillan of Morro Bay, CA.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai, Alaska with local arrangements by Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Batesville, Arkansas.

Pallbearers will be Jennifer McMillan, Shane Nicholson, Morgan Nicholson, David Spalinger, Dennis Nicholson and Larry Nicholson.

Sign Guestbook

2 Condolence(s)