Obituary of Lula May Nichols

Lula May Nichols, 79, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 30, 2014. She was born Lula Speece on October 3, 1934 in Allyn, Washington, to Marion and Lucille (Cocherl) Speece. The third of six children, she graduated from Irene S. Reed High School in 1952, and cum laude from the University of Washington in 1956 with a BA in Journalism. She married James Nichols on June 14, 1957 and moved to Lodi, California, working at the Lodi News Sentinel and for the California Department of Social Services before starting her family. Lula had four children, Stewart (passed away as an infant), David, Carol, and Linda. After her children were older, she returned to college and received her teaching credentials from University of the Pacific. She taught school until leaving California in 1979, and continued to substitute teach in Shelton until she began work for the Department of Social and Health Services. After many years as a dedicated and caring social worker, she became the Mason County daycare and foster care licensor. She retired in 1999. Lula enjoyed her family, sewing, gardening, Mariners and Seahawks games, and playing pinochle. She was a member of the Shelton Senior Center and the Shelton Christian Church. She is survived by her children, David (Sylvia) Nichols, Shelton; Carol (James) Carney, Rochester; Linda Ashborn, Shelton; brothers, Leonard (Ruth) Speece, Shelton; Daymond (Pat) Speece, San Jose, CA; grandchildren, Melanie (Justin) Kasprzak, Whitney Ashborn, Tory Ashborn, Jessica Carney, Denay Newcomer, Amber Carney, Zachariah Nichols, Shyanne Nichols, Russell Nichols, and Benjamin Nichols; by four great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her mother, father, infant son, Stewart, and by siblings Neil, Gene, and Doris. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association.