LILLIAN VERNICE NICKEL Obit

Funeral services for Lillian Vernice Nickel, 85, will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 27, 2005, in the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church. The Rev. Gary Janzen will officiate. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, OK. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home Inc. Viewing will be at the funeral home Monday, December 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and at the church on the day of the service. The family will also be meeting at the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church, Monday the 26th from 5 p.m to 8 p.m. and all family members are invited.

Lillian Vernice (Unruh) Nickel was born August 12, 1920, in Goltry, Oklahoma to Cornelius and Berta (Schmidt) Unruh and passed away December 22, 2005, at the Fairview Fellowship Home.

She was raised in Johnson, Kansas. Her family moved to Cleo Springs, Oklahoma where she graduated from Cleo Springs High School in 1937. Following high school, she worked at the White Rock Cafe in Fairview and later worked at Mike Dague’s insurance office as a secretary. She also worked at the Spud Nut Bakery for a few years. Lillian married Frank Nickel on September 22, 1946, in Fairview. After the wedding, Lillian devoted herself to being a homemaker and mother. She and Frank were blessed with two children. She did continue to work part time for Mr. Dague and began working for the Superintendent of Fairview Schools. She worked for four superintendents over the next 24 years, and changed offices from the high school to Cornelsen Elementary and finally to Chamberlain Middle School. Lillian touched the lives of many children with her beautiful smile and warm and caring nature. She was a perfectionist in everything she accomplished, very precise and organized, yet at the same time was very flexible. She worked the concession stand at nearly all of the school events. Lillian retired in 1985, and everyone was sad to see her leave the school for the last time. However, Lillian being Lillian, she remained extremely busy within the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church and community. Her faith in God and church played an important role in her life. She was involved in so many activities in her church it is difficult to list them all. She was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent of the junior department; assisted with numerous Bible schools; was on the kitchen committee, and a member of the sewing circle. A few of her community activities included being involved with the Major County Fair Board; she was a pink-lady at the Fairview Hospital and Fairview Fellowship Home; attended the Senior Citizens Center; belonged to the Betterment Club, and was an important member of the American Legion Auxiliary, King Hagen Post 51. Above all, family was of the utmost importance to her, she was a loving mother and a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. Everyone who knew and loved her will miss her bright outlook on life and her warm and beautiful smile.

Lillian is survived by one son, Galen Frank Nickel and his wife Vickie of Mannford, Oklahoma; one daughter, Glennis Hoffman and husband Mike Hoffman II of Enid, Oklahoma; two brothers, Leslie V. Unruh and wife Ann of Waynoka, Oklahoma, and Kenneth L. Unruh and wife Virginia of Lahoma, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Ashley Hoffman and Mike Hoffman, Jr., both of Enid, Oklahoma; Keri Miller and husband Shane of Ropesville, Texas and Sara Nickel of Dewey, Oklahoma; and three grandchildren, Kade, MacKenzi and Kollier Miller (and one on the way).

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank Nickel, one brother, Bill Unruh, and one sister, Francis Deloris Unruh.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the Fairview Alumni Scholarship Fund, or to the Mennonite Brethren Church. (Paid Obit 12-25-2)