FRANCES LEIGHTON NICHOLSON, age 84, passed away Friday, March 21, 2014. Fran was born March 27, 1929, in Manitowok, WI, to Elmer Henry “Buck” and Clemencia Solar Leighton. When she was a young girl, the family moved from Wisconsin to South Texas, following Buck’s career as a pilot. Buck had been a highly ranked Naval Officer, so at the beginning of World War II, he was recommissioned and the family moved to Corpus Christi, TX, where he would head the establishment of the U.S. Naval base there. It was in Corpus Christi, that Fran met Herbert “Nick” Nicholson, who would turn out to be the love of her life and adoring husband for over fifty years. During those fifty plus years, they lived in Shreveport, LA, Houston, TX, and San Antonio, TX. In their retirement years, Fran and Nick moved to Odessa, TX. Frances was an ever faithful Christian and always devoted much of her life to doing volunteer work at her church and hospitals wherever they lived. After Nick’s passing, Fran shared her time between her sons, in Sugar Land, TX, and Suffolk, VA.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Herbert Ray “Nick” Nicholson, Jr.; and sisters, June Leighton Orr and Mary Jane Leighton Hunsinger. Fran is survived by her sons, Gary Nicholson and wife Ivy of Sugar Land, TX, and Rory Nicholson and wife Colleen of Suffolk VA; grandchildren, Kelly Frances Nicholson and Jeffrey Hunter Nicholson, both of Sugar Land, TX, Amy Clark and husband Dustin of Suffolk,VA, Stephen Nicholson of Troy, MT, and Alan Nicholson of Odessa, TX; and great grandchildren, Marissa and Matthew Clark of Suffolk, VA, Liam Nicholson of Troy, MT, and Preslee Nicholson of Katy, TX.
The family would like to thank all the doctors and nursing staff at St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital ICU, for all of their care and efforts during Fran’s last days. We would particularly like to thank her nurse, Robert Zepeda, for his dedication to quality patient care and compassion, not only to Frances, but to all of the family.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, March 28, 2014, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land (Williams Trace Exit.)
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