Rosalie Carol Nickens

She was born in Damascus, Oregon, to Mr. and Mrs. Milton E. Jones, where her father raised turkeys and her mother taught piano. Rosalie grew up loving music-- singing and playing piano-- and was deeply involved in Youth for Christ during her high school years. She graduated Gresham High School in 1958, and began work at Budget Finance in Portland, where she met her husband, Richard Carl Nickens.

On June 13, 1959, she and Richard were married, and they remained devoted to each other for almost forty years, until Dick’s passing in 1997. They spent their honeymoon traveling the Oregon Coast, and moved to Cannon Beach shortly thereafter.

They welcomed three children. Rosalie and Dick raised their family in the safety and natural beauty of the then-small, beachside town.

Rosalie worked many jobs throughout her long and active life. She worked at Cannon Beach Bakery in the seventies, owned and ran the Waves Motel with her husband, worked at the Viking Motel, the Haystack Hotel, and the Surfsand. She was always able to thrive in public-facing work and was frequently Employee of the Month.

Her house at the beach was a treasured place of never-ending fun for her grandchildren. In 2000, she settled in Hillsboro to be closer to her family, but she continued working at a linens and dry cleaning business, and was actively involved in her grandchildren’s lives. She leaves them with many treasured memories of swimming, clamming, and beachcombing.

She will be remembered for her flourishing garden, her busy kitchen, and her love of music. She led a full life: active, frugal, generous, and wise.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and one daughter. She is survived by two children, Jodi and Eddie, several grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.