Loretta Mae Nicholes

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Service Schedule
Graveside Memorial Service
Gill Cemetery
4620 Kibler
Van Buren, AR  72956
Thursday, May 31, 2018
2:00 PM
Memorial Contributions
Faulkner County Library
1900 Tyler Street
Conway, AR  72032
I served in the Marine.
Loretta Mae NicholesI am a Veteran.

of Conway,

July 15, 1936 - May 24, 2018

Loretta (Lori) Tyner Nicholes, a long-time Conway resident, age 81, died May 24, 2018. Graveside services will be held at 2:00PM Thursday May 31, 2018 at Gill Cemetery, in Van Buren, AR.

Loretta was born July 15, 1936 in Henryetta, OK, the first child of Fred and Pauline (Loyd) Tyner. She spent her early years near Goltry, OK on a wheat farm homesteaded by her great-grandfather, Beverly Ward Tyner during the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run. She graduated from Goltry High School in 1954 and attended Draughon's School of Business in Oklahoma City. She also attended Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in Batesville AR and UCA in Conway, AR.

She was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and of the Arkansas Army National Guard, Headquarters Squadron. She retired from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in North Little Rock, AR in 1997. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She grew up as a member of the First Congregational Church of Goltry, OK but became a Methodist in 1958. She was a member of the original Wesley United Methodist Church of Conway and continued attending the new church. Two of her daughters were married in the new church, although she was unable to attend much in her later years due to ill health.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Michelle Williams Forsyth of Conway, by her parents, Fred and Pauline Tyner of Charleston and by a brother John Tyner, also of Charleston, Arkansas.

She is survived by her daughters, Paula Smith of Conway, Sandra Lester and husband Jay of Conway, and Rebecca Whiteaker and husband Randy of Batesville. Grandchildren include Ben Lester of Fayetteville, Jack Lester of Conway, and Emma Whiteaker of Batesville. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She is also survived by a sister, Carolyn Tyner Watteau of Conway and a brother, Michael Tyner of Charleston, Arkansas and several generations of nieces and nephews.

Loretta was an avid reader; she learned to read before she went to school and it has been one of the great pleasures of her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Faulkner County Library.



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8 Condolence(s)
Lisa Mabry-Williams
Conway, AR
Liked
Thursday, May 31, 2018

I am so sorry for the loss of your dear mother. I met Lori when Sandie and I became friends in high school. She was always very kind to me. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know her. She was very proud of and loved her children and grandchildren. She was a very special lady.

Paula Smith
Conway, AR
Liked
Monday, May 28, 2018

My Mama was my best friend and I had the honor of living with her and caring for her everyday for the last 4 1/2 years. Every day was a gift, but still not long enough. She taught me many things, but most of all how to love unconditionally and with your whole heart. She was funny, smart and loved her girls and grandchildren completely. To say she will be missed is so small compared to the hole that her passing leaves, but I will miss her. I love you Mama, thank you for loving me.

Fran Van Noy
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Monday, May 28, 2018

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know you all will miss her so very much. I hope you can find comfort in knowing how many people loved her and will miss her too. After working with her for many years, she became a very special friend. I will forever treasure my memories of that friendship. Please know you all are in my thoughts and prayers.

Gail Price Stinson
NLR, AR
Liked
Sunday, May 27, 2018

Lori's girls,
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time, I also enjoyed talking with your mother and had a chance a couple of years ago to catch up with her at the VA. She was a angel to our family during my fathers illness.

Gail Price Stinson

Leah Clark
Conway, AR
Liked
Sunday, May 27, 2018

I loved Ms. Nicholes. Her daughter and I were close friends in our adolescent and teen years, and I spent many a night in her home. Ms. Nicholes was witty, intelligent, straightforward, and kind. She and I shared a love of books and she would graciously share her huge collection with me.
Becki, I love you even when it hasn't seemed so. I am so sorry for your loss. She is Heaven's gain.

Comfort and peace,
Leah

Glenn and JoAnn Whiteaker
Batesville, AR
Liked
Saturday, May 26, 2018

May the Lord look down on this Family with comfort, and they look to Him for strength now and the days to come. We are praying for you.

John Terry
San Antonio, TX
Liked
Saturday, May 26, 2018

I'm so sorry to Lori's family for your loss. I met her, through Sandie, when I was in high school. She was one of the kindest, sweetest people I have known. Lori wrote to me faithfully when I was in USMC boot camp, something that is very dear to recruits in training.

See you later, Lori. Semper Fidelis.

Sandra Lester
Conway, AR
Liked
Saturday, May 26, 2018

I am so proud of my momma for all of the things she accomplished in her life, for instilling a love of reading in her children, and for always being there for us. I love you for always, Momma.