Jeannette Terrell Deweese Nichols

Jeannette was born July 14, 1925, to Frank H. Terrell and Lorette Chapman Terrell. She graduated from Sunset Hill School and received her Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and her Master in Economics from the University of Kansas. Following graduation, Jeannette worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, writing for them an economic history of Kansas City. Then Jeannette was employed on the Editorial Board of Fortune Magazine in New York.

Jeannette had a deep lifelong interest in spirituality, from when she began attending Saturday religion classes at St. Paul's Cathedral at the age of 13. At Vassar College, she majored in Economics and minored in Comparative Religion and Philosophy. After college, Jeannette wished to attend Religious Seminary for her further education, but was convinced by her Father to pursue something more practical at the time, and decided to get a Master's Degree in Economics.

She was married in 1954 to John E. Deweese (Jack) and they had two children, Jennifer T. Deweese and John E. Deweese, Jr. In 1973, she and Jack founded Voyageur Travel Services which they operated until his death in 1978. A year later, she married Miller Nichols.

On the side of her mother, Lorette Chapman Terrell, Jeannette had four relatives from three different families among the 102 pilgrims who came to America on the Mayflower in 1620. This was confirmed for her mother by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and later, by an independent genealogist researching the family history.

Jeannette’s passion was Kansas City. She often remarked: “We all have a passion for something. Why not be passionate about the only city of its size that supports a symphony orchestra, a ballet company, a repertory theatre and an opera? Why not be passionate about Kansas City?”

That passion was best demonstrated by Jeannette’s commitment to Kansas City’s art community and its civic and cultural institutions. She served on the Board or Advisory Board of Young Audiences, the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts, Accessible Arts, the Missouri Repertory Theatre, State Ballet of Missouri, Folly Theater, Friends of Alvin Ailey, Johnson County Community Foundation, both the Kansas and Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, the Women’s Foundation of Kansas City, the Women’s Philharmonic Association, de Tocqueville Society, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Bishop Spencer Place, National Museum of Women in the Arts, World War I Museum and the Urban Land Institute.

She was President of the Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation and a Trustee of the Miller and Jeannette Nichols Foundation from 1999 to 2009.

Jeannette was recognized as Central Exchange Woman of the Year in 2002, Honorary Chairman of Symphony Ball in 2003, Honorary Chairman of the Starlight Theater Gala in 2003, William Jewell College’s Yates Medallion Recipient in 2003, Kansas City Parks and Recreation President’s Award in 2004, Philanthropist of the Year in 2004 and Saint Luke’s Foundation Fellow in 2005.

She was the recipient of UMKC’s Chancellor’s Medal in 2007, and recognized as one of the “women who changed the heart of the city” by the City Union Mission in 2008. She received the Kansas Citian of the Year Award from the Native Sons of Greater Kansas City in 2006 and the Kansas Citian of the Year Award from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in 2009.

Jeannette is survived by her daughter, Jennifer; her son, John and his wife Noriko Noellina Christie Deweese; by her grandsons, Jonathan Holton, Jason Holton and his wife Bethany; by her great-granddaughter, Charlotte Holton; her brother, Frank H. Terrell, Jr. and his wife, Sandy; by Nancy Sweeney, her administrative assistant and dear friend for more than 40 years; and by her stepdaughter, Kay Nichols Callison.

The family requests that interested friends and loved ones might join us in prayer at their homes or places of worship. And that, in lieu of offering flowers, well-wishers might consider donations to Kansas City Hospice Foundation, 9001 State Line Rd, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64114; to Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral 415 W. 13th, Kansas City, MO 64105; or to a Charitable Organization of your choice.