Obituary
Sue Ellen Nichols went to be with the Lord on March 10, 2023. She was surrounded by the love of her family and many friends near and far. She is survived by her husband Kenneth “Ken” Miles Nichols Jr.; their daughter Whitney (Fred) Wiedner, their son Jeffrey (Heidi) Nichols; their grandchildren: Maddison Blacksher (Zeuriah Hinson), Samuel Blacksher (Tahsha Hicks), Zachary Wiedner, Truman Wiedner, and great-grandchildren: RaeAnna, Alikk, Zane, Maverick, Zayden, and Maebry. She was 79 years old and resided in Cape Coral, Florida.
Born to Selby Lee Lightbody and Ruth Anne Lightbody on February 17, 1944, in Coshocton, OH. She spent most of her formative years in Port Washington, Ohio, where she enjoyed small-town life near many of her mother’s family. In 1962 she graduated from Bethel Park High School in Pennsylvania. She began working as a secretary. Later Sue Ellen started dating a shy gas station attendant. After a whirlwind romance, the two married and started their life in Redwood City, California, with Sue as a switchboard operator and Ken as an airline mechanic.
The couple moved back across the country in 1965 to Fairfax, Virginia, for Ken’s career with TWA. Sue transitioned into motherhood with flair. Whitney arrived in April 1967, and Jeffrey in June 1969.
The airline industry uprooted the couple again, this time to Pennsylvania. Sue stayed home with the children until 1980, when she became a secretary—this move, like many others, made for lifelong friends.
In 1983 the family relocated to Weatherby Lake, Missouri, a career move for Ken. Sue hosted many gatherings at their lake home: TWA twilight shift parties, Ladies of the Lake Book Club, pig roasts, 4th of July parties, family reunions, and more. Sue’s working career also flourished with the kids growing up. She was a Sales and Catering Manager, Director of Sales and Marketing, and General Manager, all within the hospitality and casino industry.
After retirement Ken and Sue spent a short time in Lexington, Missouri, before finally settling in Cape Coral, FL. Both locations brought new and lasting friendships.
Sue enjoyed her book clubs, garden clubs, women’s social clubs, volunteering, water aerobics, games with friends, and attending the theater in her free time. In addition, she was a fantastic hostess and thoroughly enjoyed pampering her friends/guests; be it for a meal or a vacation, she loved caring for people.
Sue Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Selby and Ruth, and siblings: Larry, William, Christine, brother-in-law Russell Henk, and nephew Douglas Binando. She is survived by her immediate family, previously mentioned, her sister-in-law Carol Lightbody (her children Bridget and Ryan), brother-in-law Ronald Binando (his daughter Holley), sister-in-law Judy Carter (husband Don, their children: Mark, Tim, and Lori), and sister-in-law Alice Henk (her children: Tracey, David, and Jordan).
A Celebration of her Life will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, and Cape Coral, Florida, with time and locations to be announced. In place of flowers, the family would like you to pay it forward with kindness to others.
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