Maya "Nicki" Leah Nicole Wootton

Nothing about her tragic end matched Nicki’s spirit. She was bubbling over with life, light, and joy despite some dark times and difficult challenges.

A proud graduate of Hickman High School and an Associate’s degree, Nicki focused her passion in life on helping people and animals. Given her own struggles with addiction, which she talked about with refreshing honesty, Nicki earned a career certification in peer support counseling. This was a perfect blend of all the things she excelled at: connecting with others, using her humor to put people at ease, listening with an open heart, and sharing her story with candor and grace.

Nicki was a warrior in every sense of the word. She ran into a neighbor’s burning home once to try and save their cat. She saved numerous animals and a number of friends and strangers over the years.

She was the embodiment of this quote by Stephanie Sparkles:

“I love when people that have been thru hell walk out of the flames carrying buckets of water for those still consumed by the fire.”

Our beloved Nicki leaves behind a loving family, including her mother, Tammy Hickman; her nana, Beth Young; Uncles, Davin and Ian Tipton and Paul Cormier; aunts, Chris Tipton and Carleton Tipton-Montie and Susan Cormier and many more extended families as well as too many friends to name. She was preceded in death by her father, David Wootton; her beloved aunt, Tara Tipton; and her uncle, Martin Wootton. Her beloved pugs, Henni and Ro who loved her fiercely have found a loving home with family where they will continue to be spoiled to the end of their days.

Nicki in her own words when she was 23:

"If I died today I would be thankful for the love that I was lucky enough to feel. If I died today I would be thankful for having so many good friends that I have to count them on my fingers AND toes, and to know that I would gladly walk to the ends of the earth for them if they asked me. "

Celebration of Life service will be planned for the Summer months – when hopefully hugging will once again be allowed.