Barbara Faye Nichols, 89, of Clifton passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m.. Friday, August 13, 2021, at First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Mary Gean Cope officiating. Burial will follow at Smith Bend-Coon Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church from 1:00-2:00 p.m. The service will be live streamed at www.fumcclifton.com.
Barbara was the daughter of Theodore Christian Boedeker and Hulda Ernestine (Ziegelt) Boedeker. Barbara was born in Milam County on July 21, 1932. She spent most of her childhood in the Meridian area and attended Meridian public schools.
After meeting at the local Meridian skating rink, Barbara married Henry Thomas Nichols on February 24, 1949. During the early years of their marriage, Barbara and H.T. lived in and around the Damon and Rosenberg area as H.T. worked the oil fields. Around 1956, they returned to Bosque County and purchased a small home then in 1962 purchased a home in Laguna Park during which time H.T. owned and operated several service stations and was later employed as a propane delivery driver. In 1979, Barbara and H.T. began construction on their future home one mile south of Clifton on Highway 6. H.T. started his own propane company, Nichols LP Gas Service, and during the early years, Barbara functioned as bookkeeper, dispatcher and bottle filler.
Upon retirement, Barbara and H.T. became avid RV campers and traveled throughout the United States and made many, many friends with other RV enthusiasts. Barbara enjoyed telling stories of their many adventures. Barbara and H.T. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Hawaii. Before H.T.'s passing, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on February 24, 2019.
Barbara was an excellent and talented seamstress and enjoyed many forms of needlework. She took up oil painting in later years. She loved country music and western novels. Over the years, she enjoyed playing many, many games of Sequence, dominoes, and cards with her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Patricia Kay Bryant, Tom Nichols and wife Anita, and Jeffrey Lynn Nichols; five grandchildren, Jason Bryant, Daisha Nelson, Justin Nichols and wife Rebekah, Joshua Nichols and Brandon Nichols; four great grandchildren, Cade Nelson, Miles Bryant, Cole Bryant, and Zion Simmons.
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, H.T. Nichols; her parents T.C. and Hulda Boedeker; sisters Ida Rudy, Pearl Villarreal, and Reta Kuehn; brother James Boedeker; grandson Dustin Nichols and great grandson Spencer Nichols.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, Clifton, Texas.
Condolences may be made at www.cliftonfh.com.