Tiejuana June Nichols
SEYMOUR
Tiejuana June Nichols passed peacefully and without pain, May 11, 2022, with her family at her side. She was born Tiejuana June Gray in Madison, Indiana on July 18, 1926, to her father, Wallace C. Gray and mother, Lulu Edmund Holcroft Gray on their family farm. She graduated from North Madison High School and then Hanover College, where she was a sorority member of Phi Mu. She relocated to Columbus, Indiana in 1948 to work for Reeves Pulley where she met her future husband. In 1951, June was married to Elmer Nichols by Reverend Laws at First Presbyterian Church.
June was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, active in The Pricilla Circle and United Methodist Women. She was also very active with the Lions Club, always volunteering alongside Elmer to work during the 4-H Fair, where her family would love to visit on a hot summer day and get a cold Sprite for charity. In addition to her employment with Reeves Pulley, June worked for W.T. Grant and had a 30-year career with the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation starting as a Teacher’s Aide and Secretary to the Principal at Frances Smith Elementary and retired as the Assistant to the Elementary Education Superintendent.
June was a beautiful seamstress, spending hours quilting, making clothing for her family, keeping up with fashion and creating her masterpieces. She wouldn’t be caught dead in public without a fresh coat of lipstick and her hair done, which she had a standing appointment on Fridays for years. She loved to play the piano but eventually had to give it up as old “Arthur” finally set in, or as some would call it arthritis.
June and Elmer had four children, Alan Brent Nichols, Karen (Larry) Geiger, Mark (Denise) Nichols and Scott (Judy) Nichols; Six grandchildren, Andrea (Chris) Kahrer, Chris Nichols, Aaron (Kathleen) Geiger, Lori (Kevin) Lister, Alyssa (Kyle) Gentry and Victoria (Kendall) Yeaton; and 8 great-grandchildren.
June was preceded in death by her brother, Wallace “Bud” Gray, her sisters-in-law. Mary Jo Gray and Rita Gray; and her grandson, Christopher Nichols. She is survived by her brother, Donald R. Gray who lives in Florida.
June would want to be remembered for having her list for the day completely checked off, her house in order, a meal cooked for her family that included flavor and ALWAYS desert and her beautiful bright smile and laugh that we will all love and miss. She wouldn’t want anyone fussing over her. In her 95 years, she had many wonderful friends and acquaintances and she always wanted everyone to be honest and straightforward. Mincing words never got anyone anywhere. She found happiness in a good book, where her imagination could take her anywhere and her weekly adventures with her husband and friends, where they would pick a place, they’d never been and go. Her family will continue to perfect her signature fruit cake cookies at every holiday gathering and always stop to appreciate all the bright flowers in the world, especially peonies and irises. You will be missed dearly, Tiejuana Momma.
The visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at First United Methodist Church, 618 8th St, Columbus, IN 47201. The funeral ceremony will begin at 12 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery in Seymour. All memorial contributions may be gifted to the Lutheran Community Home, First United Methodist Church, or the donor’s choice. Any flowers can be sent to Voss &Son’s Funeral &Cremation Services.