Laura Nell Seidel Nichols

Laura Nell Seidel Nichols died at McKinney Medical Center on June 29, 2023, seven months after celebrating her milestone 100th birthday. “Nonnie” was the darling of her family and lived life to the fullest until her very last day.

Nell was born at home in Rosebud, Texas on Nov. 3, 1922 to Herbert and Minnie Seidel. At the age of 6, Nell and her large family moved to Meridian where she grew up on the family farm. She graduated from Meridian High School in 1940, serving as Homecoming Queen her senior year. She graduated from Tarleton College in 1942 with a degree in Elementary Education and taught in a rural school near the Steiner community. After WW2 began, she moved to Ft. Worth to begin working for Convair, drafting the plans for the B-24 bomber. While living in Ft. Worth, she also worked as a secretary for Shell Oil Company.

Nell married her high school sweetheart Edwin S. Nichols, Sr. after he returned home from the war. They raised their family of three children in Bosque and McLennan counties, moving many times to follow new opportunities. She was windowed in 1965 when her husband was killed in a tragic accident. She raised her children and continued to live in Bosque County until 1976, when she moved to Austin, Texas to begin a new and exciting chapter in her life. She was a member of Terrytown Methodist Austin. She had a large circle of friends and lived there until 2016, when she bought a home in Fairview, Texas to move closer to her daughter’s family. A social butterfly, Nell enjoyed gardening, playing bridge and mahjong, practicing tai chi, and spending time with friends and family. Over the years, she traveled across the United States, Europe, South America, and Central America.

In addition to her parents, Nell was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin S. Nichols, siblings, Chatham Seidel, Elva Seidel, Ruth Gill, Robert Seidel, and Dorothy Wright. She is survived by her sister, Jo Ann Oliphant; three children Edwin Nichols, Jr, (Dee), Susan Hodges (Glenn), and Les Nichols (Jan); her seven grandchildren Renee Sassin (Sean), Edwin Nichols, III (Amy), Fallin Sykora (Dustin), Laura Nichols (Matthew Snider), Julia Hodges, Claire Nichols, and Matthew Hodges; and seven great grandchildren Kendal Sassin, Peyton Nichols, Elena Nichols, Clara Nichols, Loclyn Sykora, Ledger Sykora, and Landree Sykora; and many nieces and nephews. To know Nonnie was to love her and she will be greatly missed.

Nell was laid to rest on Thursday, July 6th with a private family graveside service in Meridian Cemetery. Donations in Nell’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Edna Gladney Center for Adoption, or charity of your choice.

Arrangements were entrusted to Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas 254-435-2792.