Carol "Inez" Bailey Nichols

Carol “Inez” (Bailey) Nichols, 77 slipped peacefully into eternity on Monday, January 6, 2014. She was a longtime resident of the Greenwood area. She was born on July 15, 1936 in Hackett, Arkansas, the first born child of Claude and Bernice Bailey. Inez graduated from Hackett High School in 1954 where she was named joint salutatorian of her class. She worked on the school newspaper, The Hackett Hornet, and after graduation began her first job working for the Times Record in Fort Smith, AR as a proof reader and teletype setter. Inez was retired from Allied Van Lines in Lawton, OK and a member of Excelsior Baptist Church. She was a treasured and loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a woman of great courage and strength, single-handedly raising two daughters on her own in a time that it was so uncommon.

As a testimony to her faith, her life was a model of the “Golden Rule”, doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. A “care giver” by nature she took it upon herself to care for her family, friends and others that God placed in her path. Inez had a special way about her when it came to people. A contagious smile and delightful to be around, she made friends quickly. People automatically loved her. She will be deeply missed by her family and those whose lives she touched.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, William Hudson Nichols, Sr. and three brothers, Jerry Wayne, Donald and Daymond Bailey.

She is survived by two daughters, Carla Roper and her husband, Roy of Greenwood, AR and Jana Weber and her husband, Carl of Greenville, TX; two sons, William “Bill” Nichols Jr. and his partner, Dee Blake of Muldrow, OK and Greg Nichols of Muldrow, OK; a sister, Linda Robertson of Porter, OK; a brother, Darrell and wife, Shirley of Porter, OK; 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2014 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with burial at Evans Cemetery in the Excelsior community under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home. Viewing will be 1 – 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 6 – 8 p.m.

Pallbearers will be grandsons; Billy Nichols, Brad Nichols, Ricky Weber, Jerrod Roper, Stephen Roper, BJ Nichols and nephew, Billy Bailey. Honorary pallbearers are granddaughters; Rachael Derring, Leah Roper, and Autumn Nichols.

The family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Fianna Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation. We appreciate the “extra mile” care and love given by so many of the Fianna Hills team. Mom loved so many of you dearly.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com