Claudine Simmons Nichols

Claudine Simmons Nichols, 85, of Lake Charles, LA died at 11:25 AM on Friday, April 13, 2012 in a local hospital.

Mrs. Nichols was born November 15, 1926 in Beaumont, TX and was raised in DeRidder, LA, where she graduated from DeRidder High School in 1943. She also graduated from Southwest Louisiana Institute in Lafayette, where she was the #1 Beauty her freshman year, 1946, and has lived in Lake Charles since 1952. During World War II, she worked at the DeRidder Air Base. Prior to starting a family, she worked as a secretary for a number of years. Mrs. Nichols was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, where she volunteered many years at the Episcopal Day School and the church. She also volunteered as a Pink Lady at St. Patrick's Hospital for twenty-five years and was a member of the American Legion Post #1 Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, and saw many places in Europe and the United States. Mrs. Nichols was a longtime LSU Season Football ticket holder and enjoyed going out to eat with her family. She will be most remembered as a wonderful mother.

Mrs. Nichols is survived by her son, Edward M. "Ted" Nichols, Jr. of Lake Charles, Jeffrey "Jay" Nichols and wife Robin of Chicago, IL, and Mark Nichols and girlfriend, Donna McDonald of Miramar Beach, FL; sister, Jerrie Jantz of Lake Charles; brother, Larry Gene Simmons of Dallas, TX; and grandchildren, Paige Nichols of Baltimore, MD and Jacqueline Nichols of Chapel Hill, NC.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-four years, Edward Nichols, Sr. and parents, Willie and Lottie Holland Simmons.

Her funeral service will be at 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 21, 2012 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Father Jim Reed will officiate. Burial will follow in Prien Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday from 12:30 PM until the start of the service.