Dorothy Fay Nickell

Dorothy Fay Burgess Nickell was born on June 26th, 1923 in a small farmhouse outside of Livonia, Indiana. At that time it had no electricity, running water, or telephone. She was the third child of Lawrence and Elsie Burgess. Everyone pitched in on the farm and she did her share by working in the garden with her mother, feeding the chickens, collecting eggs, and churning butter. She had two older brothers, Maurice and Eugene, but Maurice died at age 10. She had two younger sisters, Mary and Annabelle, and a cousin, Louise, who her parents raised as their own. She attended White Rose Elementary School, and in the spring of 1941, graduated from Campbellsburg High School.

War was on the horizon, and by December the United States entered into World War II. After a year or so of continuing to live on the family farm, she and Louise moved to the nearest big city, Louisville, Kentucky. They joined the war effort, going to work at the Curtiss-Wright aircraft manufacturing plant where they helped with final assembly of military aircraft. She was a riveter for the assembly of the C-46 Curtiss Commando transport aircraft and also the SB2C-1 Curtiss Helldiver.

In 1945 she joined the Cadet Nurse Corps. She began training at St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in Louisville, and soon the war ended. She was signed into her training and chose to continue in the VA department thinking she would stay in Louisville. Ultimately she was assigned to the Memphis Veterans Hospital in Memphis, TN for the practical part of her training.

While in training there, on a blind date she met her future husband, Jefferson Boyd Nickell, Jr. (Nick). He was a decorated navy veteran of World War II, as a radioman, side gunner, and radar bombardier on B-24’s in the South Pacific. She fell in love with him. She also liked Memphis and when she completed her practical training, she elected to remain in Memphis and accepted a job at the Memphis Veterans Hospital. They continued to date and on April 16th, 1949 they were married at Park Avenue Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

During the next 4 years, they had two sons, Henry Boyd and Donald Paul, and eventually resided on Leatherwood Road in East Memphis. That would be her home for the next 68 years. With the birth of Paul, she quit working as a nurse, and became a stay at home mom raising her sons for the next 16 years.

In the early 1970’s she took a nursing refresher course and renewed her nursing license. Over the next 20 years she worked at Methodist and Saint Francis Hospitals in Memphis as a “floater” – working on different floors as needed. She very much enjoyed the variety.

She and Nick retired around 1990, but unfortunately he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma soon after and passed away early in 1992. Now alone, she filled her life with her grandchildren, activities at Central Church, the Oak and Elm Garden Club, Quota International of East Memphis, and the Salvation Army Auxiliary, where she volunteered at the Veterans Hospital and logged well over 1000 volunteer hours serving refreshments while visiting with patients.

She was one of the founding members of the Oak and Elm Garden Club, and a life member of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs. She participated in numerous flower arrangement competitions and won many blue ribbons. She truly loved working with flowers and plants and meticulously maintained her own yard until the age of 97, when she could no longer crank her mower!

From modest means, she weathered the Great Depression and World War II, and lived the American Dream. She had several phrases that she often used. If you asked her if she was hungry, she would always chuckle and reply, “well I’m always ready to eat!” Even in her final days when swallowing food was difficult, if asked, she would give that response. The other phrase was, “I just want to do the right thing.” That was her standard response when asked a question, and she really meant it!

The Great Depression taught her how to live within her means, and World War II taught her that freedom is not free. She lost many friends and as a veterans nurse, saw first hand the ravages of war. She also knew Christ as her Lord and Savior, and lived her life to his glory. These things all shaped her life. She was truly a part of the Greatest Generation!

She leaves two sons, H. B. Nickell (Laura) of Moscow, TN, Paul Nickell (Janeen) of Germantown, TN, and 3 grandchildren, Jeffrey William Nickell of Flagstaff, AZ, Aubrey Marie Nickell of Nashville, TN, and Emily Nickell Gardner (Walker) of Germantown, TN.

She was preceded in death by her husband J. B. Nickell (1992), parents, siblings, cousins, and countless friends.

A visitation for Dorothy will be held Monday, January 8, 2024 from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue with funeral to follow. The committal service will occur Monday, January 8, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue. Congregational Care Director Gus Schroeder of Central Church will officiate.

Her presence will be truly missed, but fondly remembered!