Mary Lee Nichols, age 81, of North Platte, Nebraska died unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Mary Lee was born in Norfolk, Nebraska on March 10, 1938 to Leo Martin and Florence Martha (Waechter) Prauner. She graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1956, then attended Norfolk Junior College, graduating in 1958. After her schooling, she went to work in Norfolk.
On June 19, 1960, Mary Lee was united in marriage to Jack Lee Nichols at St. John's Lutheran Church in Battle Creek, Nebraska. The couple lived in Norfolk where Mary Lee stayed home with the kids. The family moved to Chadron, Nebraska in 1970, then to Morrill, Nebraska in 1987 with Jack's job on the railroad. They moved again in 1991 to North Platte, Nebraska where they have lived ever since.
Mary Lee was active in her church, Our Redeemer Lutheran, and the North Platte community where she helped with Meals on Wheels and Compassionate Friends. Jack and Mary Lee could often be seen at the Senior center on Wednesday evenings for the dances, he liked dancing and she liked watching.
Mary Lee loved gardening, nature watching, feeding the bird and dogs. She was a fan of Nebraska sports and enjoyed watching sports on television. She also like going to garage sales and thrift stores. Mary Lee was a great wife and mother who loved her family, especially her grandchildren.
She leaves behind her husband, Jack, and daughter Kimberly Nichols of North Platte; her son Jeff (Sarah) Nichols of Fredricksburg, Texas; grandchildren Elizabeth (Kevin) Clink, Robert J.M. Gardner, and Adeline Gardner; sisters Lola (Tom) Brockman of Norfolk, Nebraska and Joyce Evener of Bellevue, Nebraska; as well as other family.
Mary Lee was preceded in death by her son, Merritt; a brother-in-law, Nile Evener; and her parents, Leo and Florence Prauner.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Daniel Ramsey officiating. Burial will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska. Visitation will be on Monday, March 2, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Orphan Grain Train or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.