RuthAnn Nicholson

RuthAnn Nicholson (née Meyer), 65, passed away on January 5, 2012, after a brief but hard fought battle with cancer. She was welcomed into Heaven surrounded by loving family at her home in Cedar Park. Born April 8, 1946 in Beaumont, Texas to Harold and Blanche Meyer, she graduated from South Park High School in Beaumont. She went on to attend Lamar University, where she was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. She was married to Richard J. Nicholson on March 16, 1973 and they spent 20 years together in Salt Lake City, Utah, building a successful food brokerage business. RuthAnn was active in the Salt Lake community as both a member of St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church and a volunteer at the University of Utah Children’s Center. She also volunteered with her daughter Nicole in the National Charity League. RuthAnn was widowed on January 8, 1994 and returned to Austin, Texas. She began a career with the State of Texas in 1995, and was a valued member of many committee and legislative staffs until her retirement as a member of the Office of the Governor on December 31, 2011. RuthAnn was a dedicated and beloved mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and aunt who loved spending time with her family on the beach, shopping, chatting on the phone, and enjoying her dog Mazey. After meeting her longtime partner, Charlie, attending University of Texas football games became a weekend tradition. The two enjoyed their annual trips to Cabo and any UT athletic event. In addition to time with her family, she treasured her friends, including the SPHS “girls” group and her “work family” at the Capitol. RuthAnn is survived by her daughter Nicole Nicholson Alaniz and husband Andres, grandsons, Lucas and Ian, step granddaughter, Yvette, mother Blanche Meyer, sister Nancy Armbrister and husband Gary, nephew Cody Armbrister and family Brooke, Lucy, and Penny, niece Kinsey Potter and husband Kevin, and her partner, Charlie Mauldin of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by many loving and care giving cousins, aunts, and uncles. A visitation will be held on Monday, January 9, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills, 9700 Anderson Mill Road. A celebration of her life will be held Tuesday, January 10, at 2:00 PM at Riverbend Church – Smith Chapel, 4214 Capital of Texas Hwy. N. Memorials can be made to Any Baby Can www.abcaus.org or Meals on Wheels www.mealsonwheelsandmore.org. “He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." (Revelations 21:4)