Shirley Nichols

Shirley Nichols, 78 year-old, Seminole, Oklahoma resident, peacefully passed from this life on Saturday, February 22, 2013, in Seminole.  She was born October 1, 1934, in Salem, Illinois.  She has been reunited with her Lord, her father “Linden” Kenneth Reese, her mother Kathryn May (Rhoades) Reese Barber, her beloved stepfather, T.M. Barber, her brother Michael, and a baby boy who was still born at birth. Left to mourn her loss are her brother, James Reese and his wife Carolyn of Boise Idaho, her children, Patrick Elifritz of Panama, Oklahoma, Catherine Moncada and her husband Tomas of Cottonwood CA, Kelly Marshall and her husband Carson of Choctaw, and John Elifritz of Seminole, Oklahoma. Grandchildren include Philip and his wife Sarah Harrington, Michael Harrington, Kelly Estrada, Cammie Martinusen, Tina Marshall, Carson Marshall III and his wife Tiffany, Amber Frey and her husband David. Great grandchildren include Logan and Brooke Harrington, Joey, Olivia and Landon Estrada, Zechariah Ruben, Bella and Carson IV, Blake Marshall and Colby Frey.  Shirley is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and other dear family and friends. Ms. Nichols worked for the Seminole Producer; she worked her way up from writing book reviews and obituaries to Society Editor.  She was proud of her opportunity to interview David Carradine and Arlo Guthrie before "Bound for Glory" was filmed.  She also interviewed Dr. Christian Barnard, the world's first successful artificial heart transplant doctor.  Another notable interview was with Governor Henry Bellman.  Shirley was also a freelance writer with articles published in Redbook, Women's Day, and book reviews in the New York Times. Law enforcement was the love of her professional life.  Ms. Nichols graduated from one of the first reserve schools held for the Seminole Police Department finding the work so fascinating she later applied and was hired.  She held certifications in fingerprinting and dispatching and attended college level classes related to interviewing victims of sex crimes. Ms. Nichols retired from the Seminole Police Department in 1997 to care for her mother.  At the time of her retirement, she was the executive secretary to the chief.  She had held positions within the police department as dispatcher, jailer, and communications supervisor prior to her promotion. Shirley was a member of the Business and Professional Women organization and was named Woman of the Year in 1991.  She also enjoyed being a member of a local sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, which helped in the restoration of the historic Strother Chapel in Maple Grove Cemetery in Seminole.  At one time Ms. Nichols sat on the board for the Oklahoma Oil Museum in Seminole.  She also volunteered at Interfaith, which provides food to families in need in Seminole County. Her wishes were to be cremated with her ashes to be spread in Bryan Memorial Park in her beloved Salem, Illinois.  A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m., Sunday, March 3, 2013, at the historic Strother Chapel located in Maple Grove Cemetery in Seminole, Oklahoma.  Chaplain Don Duncan of the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department will officiate the service. In lieu of floral arrangements, her wishes are for donations to be made to one of the following organizations: Seminole Humane Society, P.O. Box 88 Seminole, Oklahoma 74818-0088; The Jesus House, P.O. Box 60369, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73146; or please donate a book or monetary gift to the Oklahoma Oil Museum located at 1800 Wrangler Blvd., Hwy 9 West, Seminole, Oklahoma, all in memory of Shirley Nichols. Memorial services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: March 3, 2013, 2:00 PM Historic Strother Chapel - Maple Grove Cemetery located at West Strother Ave., Seminole, OK 74868