April 6, 1924 – June 7, 2018
Bonnie Nichols passed away on June 7, 2018. She was born on April 6, 1924, to parents Harmon S. “Shorty” and Lona Z (Hensley) Eakles in Talbert (now Fountain Valley), California in Orange County. In 1929 Bonnie’s family moved to the Coalinga area where she lived until moving to 13th Avenue outside of Armona in 1932.
She graduated from Armona Elementary School in 1938 and from Hanford High School in 1942, the first year of World War II. She supported the war effort by putting on plays for war bonds. After waiting nearly four years for her deployed fiancé, Kermit Nichols to return, they were married November 9, 1945. Over the years their family grew to include two sons and two daughters.
Bonnie was a hard worker her entire life. Her first job was at age ten, cutting fruit during harvest. She worked in several banks both in Hanford and Fresno. In 1962 she began working at Woodrow Wilson Jr. High School in Hanford, and moved to the Attendance Office at Hanford High School in 1964 through 1969. Beginning in 1970, she worked at Coalinga High School until the family returned to Hanford. She retired early from the KROP Adult School Office to care for her husband during his terminal illness.
Bonnie embodied a bright outlook and enjoyed being with people. She found joy in many things but especially enjoyed photography, crafts, logic puzzles, and “the greatest detective story ever,” genealogy. In recent years, she lost the ability to see due to macular degeneration, but that didn’t diminish her happy spirit. Her strong faith in God through Jesus Christ sustained her every hour of her life.
She is preceded in death by her parents Harmon and Lona Eakles, her brother Robert “Bob” Eakles, her beloved husband Kermit Nichols, and her oldest child Joel Timrek “Tim” Nichols. She is survived by six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; her children J. Daniel “Dan” Nichols (Lori), Lona Beth Davis (Larry), Cela Nichols, daughter-in-law Bridget Nichols; brother Gene Eakles (Jackie), and sisters-in-law Mary Eakles, Dorma (Nichols) Atkinson, and Shirley Nichols.
We would like to thank Dr. Wick and the 3rd floor staff at Adventist Health Hospital in Hanford for the care and comfort given to our dear one during the last days of her life. A very special thank you to Dr. M. Thomas, her nephrologist. For many years he was not only her medical guide but a true friend.
A Visitation will be held Monday, June 18, 2018 from 5-7 pm at People’s Funeral Chapel; 501 N Douty St, Hanford California. A Memorial Service will take place on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 2 pm at Armona Church of Christ; 13914 7th St, Armona California.
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