Katherine Irene Nichols' Obituary
Katherine was born in Grand Junction, Colorado on Friday, October 13, 1922. She was the daughter of Susie Grace (Parker) and Forest Thayer Smith. She had 1 sister, Nellie June, who died in a flu epidemic before Katherine was born, and 3 brothers, Merle, Kenneth and Floyd.
Her father wanted to be an actor, so the former farmer who had become a baker moved his family to California when Katherine was still a child. Her mother’s father Franklin Benjamin Parker lived with the family for much of her childhood and they participated in a lot of his projects. He had a chicken ranch where Katherine reluctantly collected the eggs as a child. In Long Beach he had a store on Signal Hill and one time he briefly owned a restaurant in the oil fields where Katherine and her older brothers would be sent out to sell candy and cigarettes.
The family moved to several other Southern California cities before settling in Colton and eventually the big white house on the corner. During World War II, Katherine helped her mother temporarily turn it into a boarding house.
As a child, Katherine loved all her brothers deeply, even though they often teased her, but her favorite was Kenneth. He was the kindest to her and took her to the movies! Her daughter says she’s not sure she ever quite forgave Wilma for marrying Kenneth and taking him away from her.
As a teen, Katherine became an artist. She loved drawing and painting. She graduated from Colton High School in 1940 and attended U.C. Berkley briefly before moving to Whittier where her older brother, Merle was a pastor of the youth ministry at the Methodist church.
This was the “Friendly Fellowship Youth Group” who, as adults, would continued to meet annually until some of them were in their 90s! It was in that youth group that Katherine met Virgil. They were married October 18, 1947.
Missing Colton and homesick for her mother, Katherine talked Virgil into moving back with their 3 daughters in 1955. The family lived with her parents in the big house for several years before moving to the “temporary” house next to the railroad tracks where she would live most of the rest of her life.
Katherine worked as a telephone switchboard operator and later helped her mother, a former teacher who had also been a milliner for Harris Company, to found Cottage Flowers on 8th St. in Colton. It was in this shop that she used her artistry to create beautiful arrangements.
The shop later moved across the street and became Arcade Flowers and then Smith Flowers, which was eventually taken over by her brother Floyd when their mother retired. Katherine would then become one of its drivers, delivering flowers to hundreds of weddings, funerals, hospitals and homes. In all she worked 46 years for the flowers shop, until her retirement in 2002 at the age of 80. She also worked for one year at Larsen Drug Store.
Katherine was a Methodist. Her mother, her grandfather Parker and even her great grandparents Alonzo and Angeline (Anderson) Parker were Methodists, as were her in-laws, Anna Bell (Konkle) and Vernon Garrett Nichols. So, its no wonder Katherine was a lifelong member of the Colton Methodist church where she served as its Sunday school teacher. She was also a Girl Scout leader and long time member of the Eastern Star, Rebecca’s.
Katherine loved animals and rescued more than you can count. Cats, dogs, hamsters, fish – if you ever visited her house you would likely see a happy menagerie vying for her attention.
Katherine was a lot of fun and loved to travel. Whether it was Washington D.C, the Grand Canyon, England, Ireland or Hawaii, her son-in-law noted, “she never saw a gift shop she didn’t like.” For instance, she might not actually walk around the Cliffs of Moyer, but she would be sure to walk around its souvenir shop.
What was most important to Katherine, however, was her family. Katherine not only spent long hours working outside the home, she spent hours a day chauffeuring her children to 2 different high schools, dance lessons, band practices, and sewing an uncountable amount of costumes. In addition, she hosted every holiday dinner and birthday celebration and never forgot to send flowers to her children on every conceivable occasion
In the 1960s, Katherine suffered the tragic death of her first grandchild Faon (Fawn) Elizabeth Powers who was killed in an automobile accident when she was only four months old. Though devastated, through months of her daughter’s hospital stay and years of her coming back home to live, Katherine never waivered in her devotion and unconditional love. In the end, Katherine not only raised her 3 daughters but also helped to raise 6 of her 8 grandchildren as well as 2 of her great grandchildren. When anyone wanted to come live with “Grandma,” she never said no.
Katherine was a widow for 26 years and in the last years of her life her daughter Kay took care of her until she moved to Santa Monica to live with her daughter Dorothy and family. It was in her arms, Katherine peacefully passed. away. She simply went to sleep and God took her home.
Katherine was a great woman of faith and duty, taking care of her mother until her passing and then taking care of her mother’s best friend who died at the age of 100.
Katherine will be remembered for her many kindnesses, her terrific sense of humor, her famous waffles and her self-sacrificing generosity. She never said no to anyone in need. She will also be remembered for her winning smile. One daughter commented, “Anyone who saw it couldn’t help but love her.”
Though it is never easy to let someone go, let it be a comfort to know, Katherine is now with Virgil, her beloved mother, father and brothers. She is finally getting to know her sister and is reunited with her granddaughter Faon.
The founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley once said,
Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can
Katherine certainly lived in that manner. Her three daughters, 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren loved her beyond measure. You couldn’t ask for more than that.
What’s your fondest memory of Katherine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Katherine?
Share a story where Katherine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Katherine you’ll never forget.
How did Katherine make you smile?