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Mary M. (Hauck) Nicholson

Posted 2025-04-28 by mhenderson
Published by Legacy Remembers on Jul. 20, 2023 -

Mary M. Nicholson, gained her angel wings on July 4, 2023, at the age of
95, in Lake Havasu City, AZ. She passed away peacefully and enjoyed
visits with family during her final days. Mary was born on April 7,
1928, in Natick, MA to the late Albert and Mathilda Hauck.

The family moved to Bellows Falls, VT where she spent most of her
childhood years. Mary graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1946
as co-valedictorian along with her beloved sister, Martha. She then
attended the Leland Powers School of Radio and Television in Boston, MA,
working her way as a waitress in both VT and MA, while remaining on the
Dean's List. She graduated in 1949 and had dreams of acting or writing
in the entertainment industry. Leland Powers offered her a role on a
show in a radio station, but she turned down the opportunity. Instead,
she cared for her boyfriend, the late Rudolph ("Smokey") Simmons, who
was recovering from a horrific car accident while in the Navy. They were
later married on September 2, 1950, and moved to Philadelphia, PA, where
they had five daughters from 1951-1961.

After divorcing, Mary moved (along with her daughters) to Culver City,
CA, in February 1966, where her sisters and parents lived. She attended
Willis Business College in Santa Monica, CA and graduated in 1966. She
began her career as a Senior Secretary at McDonnell Douglas Astronautics
Company (now Boeing) in the same year. Mary met Frederick ("Nick")
Nicholson while employed at McDonnell Douglas. After dating for a couple
of years, they were married on December 6, 1970, and resided in Culver
City, CA.

Mary and Nick moved to Squaw Valley, CA in September 1978. Together
(along with assistance from neighbors) they built their dream house on 5
acres of land located in the foothills of Kings Canyon and Sequoia
National Parks. They worked diligently on the house for numerous years.
Mary began a new career as a traveling sales representative for a
wholesale pen supply company until her retirement at the age of 65. Mary
and Nick enjoyed traveling to Nick's Navy ship reunion each year. It was
held in a different state every time, so it provided them with an
opportunity to see many different places in the United States.

Mary was involved and volunteered with many organizations, including the
American Legion Auxiliary, Girls State, and TOPS. She looked forward to
the summer when her grandkids would visit and spend a week with her.
They will forever remember the good times with Granmary. Six and a half
years after Nick's passing in April 2010, Mary moved to Lake Havasu
City, AZ to be closer to family.

Mary enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved the holidays;
Christmas was her favorite. She loved cooking for her family and
friends. She would always be eager to host luncheons and have friends
over to play games and cards. Mary's favorite card game was pinochle
which she learned from her parents. She also taught her grandkids how to
play so there was also a game or two being played at family events. Mary
enjoyed writing and had articles published in her local community
newsletter as well as newspaper articles.

Mary was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She was
well known for her contagious laugh and warm, beautiful smile as well as
her quick, funny quips. She never met a stranger; everyone became her
friend.

Mary is survived by her five daughters, Rosemarie Simmons of Culver
City, CA, Kathy Simmons of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Teri Brown (Charlie) of
Vanceboro, NC, Annette Morgan (Kevin) of Lake Isabella, CA, and Marianne
Kimmerle (Danny) of Lake Havasu City, AZ; grandchildren, Stacy Marchand
(Robert) of Vanceboro, NC, Christy Eichhorn (Greg) of Las Vegas, NV,
Jenny Adamson (Justin) of Bakersfield, CA, Kimberly Wainwright (Robert)
of Vanceboro, NC, Tommy Kimmerle (Anna) of Granada Hills, CA, CJ Morgan
(Nichol) of Goose Creek, SC, and Rachel Kimmerle of Surprise, AZ. She is
further survived by numerous great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Mathilda Hauck, her
loving sisters, Martha O'Connor and Helen Wiech, her first husband
Smokey Simmons and her second husband, Nick Nicholson, her sister-in-law
and brother-in-law, Marty and Bob Gease.

Our family extends a heartfelt thank you to the entire staff at Prestige
Assisted Living in Lake Havasu City, AZ for their exemplary and loving
care, compassion, and friendship.

Those wishing to remember Mary in a special way may make a memorial gift
to the Alzheimer's Association, https://act.alz.org or 225 N. Michigan
Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

A celebration of life will be held in September (date pending).


See Also: Find A Grave




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