Linda Marie Nickle, age 62, passed away on April 30, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on May 5, 1957 in Portsmouth, Virginia. Linda was a loving and selfless wife, mother, grandmother and aunt who will be deeply missed.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Jerome Bearman and Betty Adams; her daughter, Edith Slaughter; her step-father, Fred Adams; her grandparents, Jose Botello, Sr and Willette Botello; her Uncle, Jose Botello, Jr; her nephew, Adam Touchet; her father in law, John Smidley. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Stanley Nickle; her children, Charles Nickle, and Ruth Ann Nickle; her son in law, Joshua Slaughter; her grandchildren, Jonathan and Ethan Slaughter, and Henry Nickle; her mother in law, Betty Smidley; her aunt and two children, Wilma Bearman, and Stephanie and Mikhael Bearman; her siblings, Edie Touchet (Chris Touchet), Steven Bearman, Sandra Billings (John Billings), Debbie Farris (Billy Farris), Jeff Adams (Karen Adams); her sister in laws, Linda Webster (Scott Webster), and Jinix Maine (Don Maine); her nieces and nephews including, Ashley Morris (Tom Morris), Butch Touchet, and Chase, Madison, and Emily Billings; her cousins, including Justine McGee (Chris McGee), and Michelle Thompson (Rick Thompson).
The Funeral Service will be private, and held on Wednesday, May 13th at 10:00 am at the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with a private burial to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Linda, was a loving tender wife; devoted sincere mother; warmhearted sister; honorable compassionate daughter, loving and crazy grandmother. She always practiced what was preached by her mother, and always preached the same. She often never had to speak, her presence spoke more than others. Her life was simple, but her impact and love was very interwoven and complex within the family. The value of Family was preached, passed down as tradition by her mother (Betty Adams), and was embedded within Linda as to how devoted she was. She was the living embodiment of this value. Her passing, as she wanted, was a memorial of family that had passed, and family coming together and celebrating the future to come.
Her journey started on May 5, 1957, being born on a naval base in Portsmouth, Virginia. While early in her life was met with adversity, her mother pushed forward with her three daughters (Linda, Edie, and Donna) to Jerome Bearman. Her father helped aid in her growth, and understanding of the life ahead of her. Through her father, came her brother Steven. While her parents did separate, the value of family endured. Her step-father (Fred) preached the same to all of the children. Linda, Edie, Steven, Sandra, Debbie, and Jeff were all told of the value of family and that they were all his kids. From her family growing, her life was met with another milestone. She met Stanley Nickle, two months after their first date she asked him about being married. They were wed on April 1st, 1977. This is not a joke, and was met with acute skeptism. Linda being the captivated fan of Elvis Presley was met with his abrupt death soon after on August 1977. While it was hard to accept the passing, her love of “the King” stayed with her. She later moved to Aviano, Italy in 1978, her husband was stationed there. Through her life in Italy, helped cement the value of family. From traveling all over Italy, embracing the culture, and ultimately starting a family. On October 28, 1982 they welcomed there first child, Edith Slaughter (Nickle). Her husband (Stanley), with criticism from his wife due to the spelling of their daughter’s middle name (was to be Mae, not May) was forever held dear, and she wrote everything subsequently afterwards down, forever. Her husband, in 1983, was then stationed at Moody AFB, Valdosta, Georgia. In 1986, the family was met once again with adversity. Their child, Edith was diagnosed with Bi-Lateral Wilms tumor. This was a very trying, piercing, and harsh reality succumbing their small family. In the face of adversity, it brought forth a deep bond that endured. Upon 1989, their daughter having faced a new experimental procedure was in remission; having found the cancer was non-existent. In 1990, they welcomed a new addition to their family. Their son Charles, in the words of Linda, “with all of the hair on his head, he is not mine.” Her husband confirmed the baby was Charles in her hands. Being the only baby boy in the nursery. In 1991, they welcomed a surprise in their 2nd daughter Ruth. In 1991 was the completion, and cemented a bond from 1977. With their family in toe, embarked raising a family in San Antonio. Being close to her mother, allowed her children to be under the teaching of their grandmother. This was a blessing for Linda to witness the family she grew up with, to witness the merger of her small family becoming part of a greater legacy. From 1995, the marriage of her youngest sister Sandra to John Billings. All of the family gatherings for her children graduating, and all of the family gatherings around the holidays. She always relished in family, with the family, and always being there for the family. She adored the family celebrations of the birth of Chase, Madison, and Emily Billings. Traveling was hard to come by, but she appreciated the few family trips she was able have. The concept and value of family is what she hold dear, and was the tradition and legacy that was passed down from her mother. Though her life was simple, the roots of the ever growing family is where you can find Linda, my mother. She enjoyed seeing her grandchildren being born. Subsequently, taking all the time she could with Henry Nickle. Her passing is not the end of her, and the legacy ahead. It comes harder to endure the passing of a selfless member of the family, but it only further drives the branches and roots of the family to hold together. She will forever be missed, yearning to be seen again, and eternally grateful to witness a sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother that loved her family.
