Barbara Ann Scott Nichols passed from this life on Saturday, April 15, 2023. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Community Baptist Church in Eldorado, Texas. A graveside service will follow at Eldorado Cemetery.
Barbara was born in Kansas during the Great Depression the oldest of four siblings. Her family moved from the dustbowl of Kansas to Porter, Oklahoma in the late 1930/early 1940s where her father, a cobbler, set up shop and home across the street from the school. Her uncle, a gunsmith, also lived with them. Sadly, her father fell victim to cancer and their mother had to attend to those affairs, Barbara and her sister Leora spent several months in and about the Oklahoma City, OK area with her aunt and uncle, leaders & members of one of the earliest and longest duration Assembly of God churches in Oklahoma since its territory days. It was during this period that Barbara accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior.
Barbara married Wally Nichols on Valentine’s Day 1947. Previously, Wally had prophesied that he would “marry that girl” after seeing her at a gasoline station hand-pumping gasoline on or about the beginning of WWII, circa 1943-44 when they were both about 13-14 years old. The couple moved to Lovington, NM later that year and Wally got a job on the pipeline and began working all about the oilfields in the Permian Basin. Barbara Gail was born in Sep 1947 and later came Jeffrey in May of 1949.
Soon, the family began moving with the pipeline construction company from Lovington, NM to Big Lake, TX to all over West Texas and eventually to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN and down to Farmington, NM where Wally, Jr. was born in 1959. The larger family then moved to Miami, FL to build more pipelines there. After that job was complete, they all moved to Clinton, AR for a season. When the lure of the oilfield became too great to resist, they all moved back to New Mexico in 1962. But, being concerned with education of the children, Barbara resisted moving back to Lovington, choosing instead Hobbs because of the better schools.
After raising all the children in Hobbs, NM, Barbara and Wally moved to Eldorado, TX in 1979-80 as Wally Sr became partners in a pipeline construction/roust-a-bout company. They joined First Baptist Church of Eldorado and later moved membership to Community Baptist in Eldorado. Wally and Barbara were worthy Patron and Matron, respectively at the local Eastern Star Chapter. The local oilfield played out circa 1986 so Wally and Barbara resumed the Bedouin lifestyle of chasing pipeline inspecting jobs from then through the mid to late 1990s. Wally then retired and asked her to move back “home” to Hobbs. But, Barbara’s home had now become Eldorado. So, the two just stayed and enjoyed life in Eldorado. Barbara chose to stay in Eldorado after Wally Sr’s death in 2017. Barbara remained in Eldorado until her death April 15, 2023.
Barbara was preceded by Wally Nichols, Sr. (Beloved Husband), Jeffrey R Nichols (Beloved Son), Minnie Scott Wilson (Mother), and Roy Scott (Father).
Barbara is survived by Wally Nichols, Jr (Son), Paige Nichols (Daughter-in-Law), Barbara Gail Nichols Smethers (Daughter), Jarod W Nichols (Grandson), Ashlea N Nichols (Granddaughter), Jessie R Nichols (Grandson), Charles Nichols (Grandson), John P Smethers (Grandson) Ryan Smethers (Grandson), Four (4) Great-Grandchildren, Leora M York (Sister), Bill Scott (Brother), Darlene Barnes (Sister), Betty Blanton (niece), Sue York (niece), Sherry York (niece), and countless friends, Community Baptist Church, Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge friends, members, and acquaintances about Schleicher County.
The family love and respect the floral tributes so many have made and asked to make. However, the family requests that all tributes be made in cash donations to the Community Baptist Church in Eldorado instead of floral tributes.
