NICHOLS, Margaret Mary

Published: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 6:09 PM CDT in the Benson News Sun, Benson, Arizona. "Margaret Mary Nichols March 22, 2009 'Great Margaret' was an incredible, inspirational woman and an aficionado of life. To her great- grandchildren, who gave her the name, she was a purveyor of an endless array of books, stories and laughter. To her friends and family, Margaret Mary Martinez Nichols was a constant source of positive energy, even as her body strove to slow her down. Her travel companions were in awe that anyone who seemed so confined by a walker could do so much. Her doctors called her amazing even through her final days. She always kept a hopeful eye on the future with downright determination, and just a few weeks ago she was looking into buying bank stock. She reminded her daughters, Virginia and Barbara, that they came from a long line of strong women, and they will never forget it. Born in Los Angeles, Calif. in August 1916, and baptized in the old Spanish church on Olvera Street, Margaret soon returned to Cochise County to her parents' home. Her grandchildren love to hear her tell stories about her childhood in Benson, especially about her interview in the Benson bar with a few cowboys who were in town for the rodeo so she could write an article for her school paper. She moved to Tucson in 1934 in the midst of the Depression to work her way through the University of Arizona, where she enjoyed Political Science and journalism, wrote for the Wildcat, and even played basketball at a time when women athletes weren't recognized. She maintained her loyalty to and support of the University as a dedicated Wildcat fan, following every major sport at the University. She was recognized with a letter and invited to join the Alumni Letter Winners. Even in her recent weakened state, she was thrilled to know the University had made it into the tournament this year, especially after a disappointing loss to the "other university in Arizona." Her 90th birthday party was held at the McKale Center, and celebrated by friends and family and even special guests, Wilma and Wilbur Wildcat! After graduating in 1940, Margaret worked in the employment office in Bisbee, where she met and fell in love with fellow Cochise native, Gordon McGillvary Nichols. After several wedding postponements, Gordon sent word he was off duty for the weekend. A guest on her way to the ceremony saw him walking down the road and offered him a ride to St. Patrick's Church in Bisbee, and they were married there on Oct. 18, 1942. They began a more than 50-year journey together that took them many places, including Hawaii, Germany, and Atlanta before they returned to Tucson in 1957. But Margaret was not done seeing the world; her mother, Sarah H. Martinez, had passed on a love of travel, and, especially after Gordon's death in 1993, Margaret could be found around the country attending Association of Counter Intelligence Corps Veterans (ACICV) and Library Association conventions, the Maui Invitational basketball tournament when the U of A was playing, and in New Mexico or California visiting her daughters and their families. At one time she wanted to be a landscape architect, but instead she found other avenues for beauty and creativity. Much later she did course work towards a Masters in Library Science at the University of Arizona, while working for Tucson Public Library. She worked for the City of Tucson for 21 years and was a proud member of the Old Librarians Association formed at her 90th birthday party. She was active in the American, Arizona and Mountain Plains Library Associations, UA Letterman's Association, Catholic Daughters, ACICV, Tellers of Tales, American Legion and Knights of Columbus wives club. She was a member and past president of the National Organization of Pen women and served on the Caldecott Committee in 1983. Even with so much time devoted to so many activities, she put her family first and kept in touch with a wide circle of friends and their families, sending cards at every occasion and keeping Hallmark in business! She was an avid reader and could recite simple and funny poems and toasts learned in childhood and some racier ones from her college days! Margaret was an Arizonan to the core with a history traced to pioneer times. There wasn't an election that she missed, and she encouraged others to vote at every opportunity with the story of her and Gordon's two absentee ballots in Cochise County, which determined the election one year. It didn't matter if you were Democrat or Republican, just as long as you voted. When her youngest granddaughter, Christine Geibel, was born 22 years ago, she worried that she wouldn't have a chance to see her grow up, but she did, and then she lived to see her great-grandchildren - Garrett Oliver Ness and Eleanor Cabot Ness. She is survived by her daughters Virginia Ness and Barbara Geibel and their families, Howard, Erik, Toni, Garrett, Jon, Cate and Ella Ness and John and Christine Geibel and Bridget and Martin Stefanski. Also surviving is her niece, whom she loved as a daughter, Patricia Ann Nitzsche, and her husband, Ron Nitzsche, and her loving nephew, Donald Rogers, and several cousins. We ask that you remember her unfailing spirit and endless curiosity for everything and everyone, her love of the song, "Don't Fence Me In," her passion for reading, learning, travel - and sports! Services were held Tuesday, March 31, 2009, with burial at Our Lady of the Desert Cemetery, Tucson, Ariz. Arrangements by East Lawn Palms Mortuary, 5801 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ 85712. Her funeral was a tribute to her life, interests and family, attended by survivors from her pioneer roots, lifelong and newly made friends of all ages and of course her family. Mom said that a funeral should not be a sad thing but rather glorious, happy and full of color! So, we acknowledge that and asked that her friends attend in full array of color and bring good tidings and stories. In her memory, if you wish, donations may be made to: The University of Arizona A-Club Endowment - Memory of Margaret Nichols or to the Pima Library Foundation, Betty Holpert Reading Room, P.O. Box 13245, Tucson, AZ 85732."