Elsie "Pete" Johnson Nichols

NICHOLS, Elsie “Pete” Louise Johnson, 98, of Ashland, passed away peacefully at Hanover Manor Assisted Living on May 26, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents Clyde and Katie Johnson, brothers Clyde (Barbara Jean) Johnson and Bill (Mary) Johnson, sisters Virginia (Howard) Thompson and Kathryn (John) Banks, and nephew David Johnson. She is survived by nephews Tom (Madeleine) Johnson, Asa (Martha) Banks, Jim (Hollis) Banks, and Barry (Ana) Johnson, and nieces Jeanne Miller, Judy (Ashley) Pierce, Beverly (Steve) Bray, Katie (Harvey) Gay, Terry (Mark) Clark, and Julie (Duane) Bookheimer. Pete was the youngest of five children whose father passed away during the Great Depression when she was nine years old. Her mother raised her and her siblings as a single parent and instilled in them a deep and abiding Christian faith. Her older brother Bill Johnson called her “Pete” when she was a small child and she embraced the nickname the rest of her life. Pete graduated from Henry Clay High School and attended Smithdeal-Massey Business College. She married a career Army officer and traveled with him to his many different duty stations including Japan at the outbreak of the Korean War. She was a longtime employee of Hanover Pharmacy and Rite-Aid. Pete was a resilient and self-reliant woman who loved to dance like there was no one watching. She had a special affection for her small breed dog companions who gave her comfort over the course of her life especially her beloved Pekingese Chi-sai. Pete was proud of her Johnson family roots and took great joy in her many nieces and nephews and their families. She liked to reminisce and share her many family memories with them. The family is grateful to her dedicated caregivers at Hanover Manor for the compassionate care they provided her. The family will receive friends Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 10:30 to 11:00 AM at Woodland Cemetery, 11310 Hanover Avenue, Ashland, VA, where a graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM. Donations may be made to Ashland Presbyterian Church, 401 Virginia Street, Ashland, VA 23005 or online at https://www.ashlandpresbyterian.org/give