Barbara Ann Nichols

Barbara Ann (Smith) Nichols was born July 21, 1938 in Vernon, Texas and went home to be with the Lord on January 4, 2021 in Celina, Texas at the age of 82. She grew up in Vernon, Texas and Midwest City, Oklahoma. She met her future husband, James Nichols, on January 4, 1957 and married a month later on February 2, 1957. They remained married for 49 years, and settled in Mesquite to raise their family. She had many jobs, but her favorite was working with students with physical disabilities. Her love for her students was evident as she succumbed to Alzheimer’s and went into a memory care facility and tried to take care of other residents in wheelchairs, thinking they were her students. She spent the last 11 years at Settlers Ridge Care Center in Celina, TX where she received much love and exceptional care.

She is preceded in death by her parents Marvin and Margaret Smith, sisters, Carolyn Martinez and Patsy Shenton. Barbara is survived by her former husband James Nichols, daughters, Karen Whitley and husband James, Cindy Holmes and husband Kyle, and Penny Nichols. Barbara loved her six grandchildren, Jason and Brian Whitley, Troy and Leah Holmes, and Landri and Presley Wenzel. In addition, she had eight great-grandchildren, James Hunter, John, Jesse, Addison, Christian, Brighton, and Graycen Whitley, and Norah Jean Holmes.

The funeral service for Barbara will be held on Monday, January 11, 2021 at Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home in Mesquite, Texas at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.