Velma Florlene (Birdwell) Nichols

Velma Florlene (Birdwell) Nichols, age 85 and a former resident of Konawa, Oklahoma, passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at St. Anthony Hospital in Shawnee, Oklahoma. A graveside service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 20, 2017 at Vamoosa Cemetery East of Konawa under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa.  Rev. Winston Manning and Rev. Phil Thompson will officiate. Velma was born August 3, 1931 in Konawa to Dorsey (Freeman) and Sidney Birdwell.  She was of the Baptist faith, and she enjoyed going to church and singing gospel songs like “I’ll Fly Away” and “The Old Rugged Cross”.  She also loved telling riddles. She is survived by one son, Carl Eugene Nichols of Paris, Texas; five daughters, Doris Luttrell of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Charlene Nichols of Wewoka, Oklahoma, Lola Jean Gomez of San Antonio, Texas, Brenda Nichols of Wewoka, and Lori Stroud of Oklahoma City; three sisters, Helen Encie of Oklahoma City, Wilma Palmer of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Lois Rose of Oklahoma City; twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Nichols; parents, Dorsey and Sidney Birdwell; and one brother, Lloyd Birdwell. The family would like to thank the staff of Shawnee Care Center for the loving care which they provided for Velma. Funeral Information: January 20, 2017, 11:00 AM Graveside Service at Vamoosa under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa located at 217 N. Broadway, Konawa, OK 74849