Eron Nicholls

Eron Margene “Marge” Nicholls, 81, died May 12, 2012, at her home of seven years, Sun Terrace Assisted Living, in Hermiston, Ore.

Marge was born May 2, 1931, at Fayette, Ala., to Tressie Woods and Eva Mae (Estes) Woods. Marge was the eldest of seven children with three brothers, Joe, Thomas, and Marion; plus three sisters, Carol Sue, Ann and Hilda. Marge trained for and obtained her licensed practical nurse certification at Bryce State Hospital in Tuscaloosa. It was Alabama’s oldest and largest in-patient psychiatric facility.

In the winter of 1955, Marge joined her sister, Carol Sue, in Whitefish. She worked as a nurse at the town’s medical clinic. On Feb. 11, 1956, Marge married Alexander Nicholls in Whitefish. They settled in Columbia Falls, where Alex worked as an electrical maintenance foreman at Anaconda Aluminum Co. Together they built their first home, on Second Avenue West and raised their family, daughters Sheri Ann, Mary Kay and Patricia Marie, and stepson Rodney Gene.

Marge dedicated herself as a homemaker and community volunteer. She was active in Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron for Estella Pomeroy Chapter No. 68 and State Grand Chaplain in 1969-1970. Once her children were all in school, Marge drove a school bus for 10 years.

In 1984, Marge and Alex began sharing residency, with winters in Hermiston on daughter Sheri’s family ranch and summers at Ashley Lake. Marge was a member of the United Methodist Church first in Columbia Falls and later transferring to the Hermiston congregation. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and served on various committees and United Methodist Women.

She was preceded in death by her husband Alex and daughter Mary Reddington in 2003; her parents and remaining siblings; and her stepson Rod Nicholls, Sr. in 2011.

Survivors include her daughters Patricia Nicholls, of Spokane, Wash.; Sheri Wadekamper and husband Lon, of Hermiston; sister Hilda Williams, of Fayette, Ala.; grandsons Lane and Scott Wadekamper and his family, of Hermiston; Peter Reddington and his father John Reddington, in Carmel, Ind.; Rod Nicholls, Jr., of Seattle, Wash.; and Matthew Nicholls, of Elko, Nev.; granddaughter Lonette Fedio, of Tampa, Fla.; and three great grand children. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Methodist churches in Hermiston or Columbia Falls, the Alzheimer’s Association or the Vange John Memorial Hospice.

A celebration of life service took place May 18, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church in Hermiston.