Eron Margene 'Marge' Nicholls, 81

Eron Margene “Marge” Nicholls, 81, died Saturday, May 12, 2012, at her home of seven years, Sun Terrace Assisted Living, in Hermiston, Ore.

 A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 18, at the First United Methodist Church in Hermiston.

Mrs. Nicholls was born May 2, 1931, in Fayette, Ala., to parents, Tressie M. Woods and Eva Mae (Estes) Woods. Marge was the eldest of seven children with three brothers, Joe, Thomas and Marion; plus three sisters, Carol Sue, Ann and Hilda.

Marge trained for and obtained her licensed practical nurse certification at Bryce State Hospital in Tuscaloosa. It was Alabama’s oldest and largest in-patient psychiatric facility.

In the winter of 1955, Marge joined her sister Carol Sue in Whitefish. She worked as a nurse at the town’s medical clinic. On Feb. 11, 1956, Marge married Alexander Harold Nicholls in Whitefish. They settled in Columbia Falls, where Alex worked as an electrical maintenance foreman at Anaconda Aluminum. Together they built their first home on Second Avenue West and raised their family, daughters Sheri Ann, Mary Kay and Patricia Marie, and stepson Rodney Gene.

Marge dedicated herself as a homemaker and community volunteer. She was active in Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron for Estella Pomeroy Chapter No. 68 and State Grand Chaplain in 1969 and 1970. Once her children were all in school, Marge drove a school bus for 10 years.

In 1984, Marge and Alex began sharing residency with winters in Hermiston on daughter Sheri’s family ranch and summers at Ashley Lake.

Marge was a member of the United Methodist Church first in Columbia Falls and later transferring to the Hermiston congregation. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, served on various committees and United Methodist Women.

Survivors include her daughters, Patricia Nicholls of Spokane, and Sheri Wadekamper and husband Lon of Hermiston; sister, Hilda Williams, of Fayette; grandsons, Lane and Scott Wadekamper and his family of Hermiston, Peter Reddington and his father John Reddington of Carmel, Ind., Rod Nicholls Jr., of Seattle, and Matthew Nicholls of Elko, Nev.; granddaughter, Lonette Fedio, of Tampa, Fla.; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Alex, and daughter Mary Reddington in 2003; her parents and remaining siblings; and her stepson, Rod Nicholls Sr., in 2011.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Methodist churches in Hermiston or Columbia Falls; Alzheimer’s Association; or the Vange John Memorial Hospice.

Please sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements. Notice of a future memorial service in Montana will follow.