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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Nichols, Mary Ann

NICHOLS, Mary Ann

Mary Ann Teresa Carlton Nichols passed away on the afternoon of May 16th, 2012; she was 92 years old.

Mary Ann was born on December 15th, 1919, in Cork, Ireland to Haldon Dewy Nichols and Mary Dorris Murphy Nichols.

The family immigrated through Ellis Island, New York when Mary Ann was only five years old and after arriving in the Spokane area, Mary Ann and her mother were both hospitalized for separate conditions at Edgecliff Sanitaruim.

The doctors told her and her father that she would never walk and most likely would die a child.

When Mary Ann’s mother had died she went to a foster home.

Mary Ann is the last of her family’s generation to pass on.

In her journey through life Mary Ann helped raise so many children, not ever having any of her own.

These children loved her deeply and she became a part of their family and is to this day.

Mary Ann retired and moved to Diamond Lake after 31 years of service at the Spokane County Court House and was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joseph, her sister Constance, her foster sisters Elaine and Vera May, her lifelong friend Bessie Kennett and her husband George Kennett.

Today Mary Ann is survived by nieces Linda and Tracy, a great niece, and all the children she raised including Dennis and Randy Utterback, Tami Ellingson, Mary Jo Kennett, Dorothy Kennett Yeaw, and Mary Ann’s boys Sam and Tony Yeaw.

Annie we love you with all our hearts.

You are the reason our lives were so special.


A Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, May 29th 2012 at 11AM at the United Church of Christ in Newport with a private burial to follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens.

SHERMAN-KNAPP FUNERAL HOME IN NEWPORT is in charge of arrangements.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at sherman-knapp.com