Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Mildred Irene Nichols was called home to heaven on Aug. 25, 2017, in The Dalles, Ore. Mildred "Millie" was the oldest of eight children, born to Bertha and Leonard Pyatt. She was born in Randolph County, Mo., at their rural home. She met the love of her life, Lawrence Nichols, in the eighth grade, and they were later married on July 21, 1953, in Montgomery City, Mo. They lived in Missouri until June of 1965 when they moved to Hawthorne Nev., with their five children: Richard, Susan, Brenda, David and Nancy. Once all the kids were in school, Mildred worked in Hawthorne at the Naval Ammunition Depot making 250 and 500 pound bombs to send overseas to aid in the Vietnam War effort. Mildred was working in the warehouse the day an accidental explosions killed two of her co-workers. Mildred decided the third time “may be the charm,” so she quit her job and was a stay at home mom again, which Lawrence and her family loved and actually insisted upon.
Lawrence worked at Basic Incorporated in Gabbs, Nev., until he was hired by the Naval Ammunition Depot as a welder in Hawthorne. He advanced to welding supervisor before being transferred to the Dalles Dam in 1980.
They were both members of the Elks Lodge in Hawthorne.
Mildred loved gardening, fishing, bowling and especially mushroom hunting in the forest areas surrounding Dufur, when her family or many friends weren't visiting. Her Bible study classes and The First Christian Church, and the many friends she had there, were cherished by Millie.
She and Lawrence were married for 40 years when he passed away in 1993. She is now reunited in heaven with her parents; loving husband; son, Richard Nichols; brother, Paul Pyatt; sisters, Mary Debo, Wanda Blancey and Linda (who died at age 2) and two great- grandchildren, Savannah Rose Berish and Joseph Michael Menicucci; brothers-in-law, Robert Vaughan, and William (Bill) Nichols; sisters-in-law, Nellie Gibbs, Mary Alice Nichols, Bernice Banks, Saundra McKeown; and many other family members who were waiting to welcome her home.
She was always a constant source of love and encouragement to everyone she met and will be missed dearly by all. Mom (grandma) is in all of our hearts. Many remember her infectious laugh, superior hugs and her love of family board games, camping trips and the little and big talks we had with her.
Mildred is survived by her sister, Yvonne Vaughan and family of Georgia; sister, Barbara Pyatt and family of The Dalles; brother, Arthur Pyatt, wife Emma and family of Arizona; sister-in-law, Judy Angelo, husband Bob and family of Georgia; brothers-in-law, Richard Debo and family of Wellsville, Mo.; Norman Blancey and family of Hawthorne Nev.; sister-in-law, Kathy Pyatt and family of Hawthorne Nev.; daughters, Susan Berish, husband Dave and family of Winnemucca, Nev.; Brenda Nichols and family and Nancy Nichols and family of Hawthorne, Nev.; son, David, wife Donna and family of The Dalles; daughter-in-law, Irma Nichols and family of Gresham, Ore.; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all across the United States. We all have another angel to look over us.
Mildred will be laid to rest beside her loving husband at the Dufur Cemetery. Funeral will be held at Spencer Libby and Powell Funeral Home Sept. 9, 2017, at 2 p.m. in The Dalles. Interment will follow at 3:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to one of Mildred’s favorite charities: St. Jude Children's Research or Boys Town.
