Jeanne Marie (Nicholson) Shoulders, 91, died Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Good Samaritan Home. Jeanne was born on July 12, 1929 to Ruth (Waters) Nicholson and Richard E. Nicholson in Evansville. She was the oldest of nine brothers and sisters, all born in Evansville. Jeanne’s mother and father were both one of nine also, ultimately leading Jeanne to claim she was related to everybody on the west side of Evansville, and bestowing her children and grandchildren with more cousins than they can count. Jeanne attended Reitz High School where she was captain of the cheerleading squad from 1945-1947. She was basketball homecoming queen in 1947. During her busy high school years, she managed to work half-time at Reitz Drugstore on West Franklin Street.
Jeannie, as her friends called her, married Harold R. Shoulders in 1948 and they were happily married for 67 years until Harold’s passing in 2015. At 19 years old, Jeanne started working a career at the old Mechanic Arts Vocations Training Center at the original North High School location. After raising her children to school age, she became a pioneer in the “working Moms” movement, juggling raising her children while pursuing a career as a clerical and bookkeeping professional. Jeanne was a hard worker, but she always managed to make her jobs joyful and full of friends. She worked until she was 77 years old, finishing her career as the bookkeeper for husband Harold’s small business.
Jeanne had three sons – Mike, Pat, and Jeff, in that order. She was a wonderful mother who taught her children to respect all people. Her sons and their families acknowledge Jeanne as the Matriarch of the family. She guided each one in her family with love and humor. She had a charismatic personality that was unforgettable. Her family meant everything to Jeanne, and she always kept up-to-date on grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities, careers, friends, and loves.
Jeanne and Harold were avid supporters of their son’s and grandchildren’s sports teams, never missing a game in any weather and in all seasons. They followed closely their grandchildren’s academic, theatrical, and artistic pursuits in school. Jeanne and Harold were also staunch Indiana University supporters, tailgating at football games and rooting for I.U. basketball. Jeanne was chairperson for all of her Reitz High School, Class of 1947 reunions. She has been a servant-leader in her family and in the lives of her friends. Jeanne and her husband were longtime members of the Methodist Temple. She will be sorely missed by all who had grown to know and love her.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold; and brothers, Robert Nicholson and David Nicholson. She is survived by her sons and their spouses; Michael (Becky), Patrick (Lisa), and Jeffrey (Julie) as well as six of her brothers and sisters; Richard Nicholson, Jr., Mary Ditzer, Jackie Lovelace, Betty Fleming, Ed Nicholson, and James Nicholson. She is also survived by grandchildren, Ben (Shannon), Jon (Kelly), Samantha Bucur (Dave), Andy, Luke, Adam, and Grant Shoulders; and great-grandchildren, Addie, Belle, and Quinn Bucur; and Emma, Sadie, and Parker Shoulders. She is also survived by numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Jeanne’s family would like to thank the Good Samaritan Home and Heart to Heart Hospice for Jeanne’s care in the last days of her life.
A Private Family Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 7, 2020 at Alexander East Chapel. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Jeanne’s service will be livestreamed beginning at 10:50 a.m. at www.facebook.com/FuneralStreamUSA. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jeanne’s name may be made to EVSC Foundation, or to another favored charity.
