Ruby Lee Nichols

Memorial service for Ruby Lee Nichols, 84, of Gainesville are set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Friendship Baptist Church folloing a private family graveside service. Rev. Larry Huffman will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home of Gainesville.

Mrs. Nichols died Jan. 5, 2008, at North Texas Medical Center in Gainesville.

She was born Aug. 17, 1923, in Gainesville to Leonard L. and May Bell Brookshire Winchester. On Sept. 8, 1940, she married M.M. Nichols in Las Vegas, Nev. She was a homemaker and a member of Grace Friendship Baptist Church. “Maw-Maw”, as she was affectionately known by one and all, was first and foremost a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Her greatest joy was cooking for family and friends.

Survivors include her children, Melvin Nichols and his wife, Nell of Gainesville, Margaret Hogeland and her husband, Leslie of Lewsiville, Lawana Bunn of Gainesville, and Ray Nichols and his wife, Leslie of Gainesville; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Lillian Winchester of Denton, and Barbara Fell and Dean Bailey of Fort Worth; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Mamie and Billie Nichols of Gainesville; and brother-in-law, Frank Nichols of Baltimore, Md.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and by her husband, M.M. Nichols on Nov. 9, 1998.

Honorary pallbearers are Robbie and Craig Hogeland, Jody Fowler, Eric Bunn, Joe Carr, and Charlie and Brent Carnevale.

Visitation will be at the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Memorial contributions may be made to Home Hospice of Cooke County; P.O. Box 936; Gainesville, TX 76241 or to Grace Friendship Baptist Church; 1816 Luther Lane; Gainesville, TX 76240.