Allene Nichols Pope

Allene Nichols Pope, wife of former Chief Justice Jack Pope, died in Austin, Texas, on July 13, 2004. She and her twin sister, Betty Murray of Lubbock, Texas, were born in San Antonio on December 10, 1913. Her parents, J.A. Nichols and Marcia Robinson Nichols, moved the family to Austin while the twins were still infants. Allene attended public schools in Austin, and after graduating from Austin High School, she attended The University of Texas where she earned her B.A. degree in 1935. Her first teaching position was at Fulmore Elementary School in South Austin where she had begun school as a child. She later taught at Becker Elementary School. Allene and Jack were married in Austin on June 11, 1938. They lived in Corpus Christi, where he practiced law and she taught at Menger Elementary School. While living in Corpus Christi, Allene was an active member of the American Association of University Women, the American Cancer Society, and the PTA. She was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Lawyers Auxiliary. She and Jack moved with their two young sons to San Antonio in 1950 after he was elected to the Court of Civil Appeals. While there, she was active in the San Antonio Bar Auxiliary and served as its president in 1958. For many years, she taught Sunday School classes at the Jefferson Church of Christ. Allene campaigned with her husband all over Texas in 1964, when he was a candidate for the Texas Supreme Court, and in 1965, she returned with Jack and their two sons to Austin, her original home, where she continued to live the rest of her life. She was active in the State Official Ladies Club and served as its president in 1975, and she treasured her membership at the University Avenue Church of Christ. Allene was a lifetime member of the Austin Women’s Club, the American Association of University Women, The University of Texas Ex-Students Association, and the Women’s Association of Abilene Christian University. She also served as a director to Girls’ Town. Allene was honored in 2000 at Abilene Christian University for her service to the Brown Library. She is survived by Jack, her husband. She is also survived by her son, A.J. Pope, III and his wife, Carla, of Houston, Texas; and by Walter Allen Pope and his wife, Karen of Castle Rock, Colorado. Her other survivors are three grandchildren, Drew Pope and his wife Allison, Ryan Pope, and Billie Jean Pope Locke and husband Jeff; and their children Dylan and Peyton Locke; her twin sister, Betty Murray; her niece, Marcia Murray, and her nephew, Ken Murray. Allene spent all of her years in harmony and at peace with every event in her life. She found joy in and loved her family, church and friends. Until she became disabled, she busied herself in visiting those who were homebound, ill and old. She felt blessed by her many friends who remembered her when she too became older and disabled. The family expresses their gratitude to her many friends, her doctors, caregivers, therapists, and the elders and members of the University Avenue Church of Christ who made life more pleasant for her. As she said on many occasions, “Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life.” Family visitation will be at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Friday evening. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2004 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home in Austin with Dean Smith, minister of the University Avenue Church of Christ, officiating. The elders of the University Avenue Church of Christ will be the pallbearers, and burial following the service will be at the Texas State Cemetery. Memorial remembrances may be sent to the Pope Fellows Program, Box 8276, ACU Station, Abilene, TX 79699, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78705 – (512) 452-8811 You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com