Dorothy N. Nichols

Mrs. Nichols died Monday, April 19, 2004, at Golden Palms Retirement & Health Center in Harlingen, Texas.

She was born Nov. 13, 1923, in Ottawa, the daughter of Elmer and Bulah Weien Richardson. She graduated from Ottawa High School in 1941.

Mrs. Nichols was a homemaker. She was office administrator of Ottawa Community Arts Council from 1992 to 1995 and state representative for the 14th District of Franklin County from 1981 to 1986. She served on the Ottawa City Commission from 1977 to 1981 and was the city’s mayor from 1978 to 1979. She had been a board member of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce since the early 1970s and was president from 1976 to 1977. She also was a member of the Kansas Public Employee-Employer Relations Board from 1987 to 1995. She received the “Molly Pitcher Award” from the Kansas National Guard for service to the Field Artillery Community. She owned and operated Lee’s Downtowner Cafe in Ottawa with her husband from 1963 to 1984 and was a bookkeeper for Weideman Tire and Battery in Ottawa and a bus driver for Ainsworth Bus Service in the early 1960s. She was store manager for Eddie’s Casual Shop in Ottawa from 1944 to 1946 and was a union secretary, machine operator and inspector for American Can Co. of Monterey, Calif., from 1942 to 1944.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Ottawa, where she served as moderator and on the Pastoral Relations Committee and sang in the choir. She was also involved in the Ottawa Area of Girl Scouts Board; Santa Fe Council of Girl Scouts; Business and Professional Women’s Club, where she was named 1978-79 Woman of the Year; Soroptimist International of Ottawa, where she was the 1981-82 Woman of the Year; Parent-Teachers Assn.; Well Child Clinic; Heart to Heart Program; Ottawa Boys and Girls Club; and Friends of Historic Buildings.

She married William R. Nichols on Jan. 26, 1946, in Ottawa. He died July 18, 1979.

A daughter, Melissa Price, and a son, Joel Nichols, also died earlier.

Survivors include two sons, Stephen R. Nichols, Jacksonville, Fla., and William S. “Stan” Nichols, Ottawa; three daughters, Christine Campbell, Ottawa, Julie McAdoo, Ottawa, and Penny Knapp, Las Vegas; two sisters, Carolynn Comstock, Topeka, and LaMae Mock, Harlingen, Texas; a brother, James Richardson, Ottawa; 25 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call after 9 a.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at Dengel & Son Mortuary, where family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. today.

The family suggests memorials to Friends of Historic Buildings or the church, sent in care of the mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa 66067.

E-mail condolences may be sent to dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net.