I met Marie in July 1991, I was thirty two years old, and it was my first job as a Business Office Manager at Doctors Hospital in Conroe.  Marie was the Billing Manager. Marie was sixty-one, only five years older than I am now.  As way of introduction to her personality, she told me she had bras that were older than me when I was trying to convince her to do something other than her usual way.  I laughed so hard that it surprised her and me, and that was the beginning of our long friendship. Marie had a quick wit, and sometimes when she didn't mean to be funny and was quite serious, she was very funny.  When my brother and I picked her up from the airport several years ago for a visit to Texas, she told him to slow down because at the speed he was going we wouldn't have to worry about paying for the emergency room if we were in a wreck, we would go directly to heaven.  My brother Bob and I laughed so hard we couldn't stop, and Marie just looked at us and shook her head then laughed.  We were going 75 mile hour on I45, but she didn't like speed.  

I had no idea when I met Marie how much she would influence my career, outlook, and life, but she has held a major role in it.  I lost my mother when I was seventeen, and I longed for a mother's influence in my life, and she has held that role along with being my friend and mentor.  Marie helped make me the professional success I am today by her example and training.  As I write this I realize I am doing the same thing for the young men and women who work with me today.  This is how life is suppose to be; we pass on the wisdom we gather on earth to the next generations, and I was so blessed to have met Marie.  Her legacy is living through me to others. 

Marie was a very unique woman, besides having  a sassy tongue, quick wit, razor sharp mind, and sweet demeanor of an Angel, but those who knew her best knew how wrong that could be if you crossed her or those she loved,which included her deceased husband, Nick Nichols, her sons Mike and Bud, daughter, Anne, grandkids Lisa and John Michael, and great grandkids, Nickolas and Sophia, along with many friends, pets, Marie loved with all heart, God , Marie loved her church family in Onalaska and Portland.  She loved to sing, went to many gospel singing events, volunteered at the Senior Citizen Senior, Beautification project for Onalaska, Lioness Club, and Hospice in Onalaska. Marie put in a full garden every year to the delight of her friends who benefited from it, and kept up the mowing on her property in Onalaska.  Marie started piano lessons in her seventies, and she loved to play her upright piano and read British mystery and Reacher novels (in her free time!) She worked hard all her life, and she kept moving.  

Marie's life was not always easy, it was far from easy, but she had an indomitable spirit that pushed forward,  She took care of business, did not have time for feeling sorry for herself, and did what she could for other people a long the way,  She had fears that stemmed from surviving the depression as a child, losing her own mother at an early age, and suffering other losses of loved ones, but she did not allow those fears to stop her.  Marie knew where her strength came, and it came from God.  

After her third heart attack, she finally conceded she needed help, and her son Mike Nichols remodeled his home for Marie's needs and brought her to Portland to live out her final years.  She enjoyed her family so much Mike, Lisa, John Michael, and great grandkids, Nickolas and Sophia. She missed her friends, Texas weather (not the hot), and Mexican food, but she had her family.  Lisa would take her out to eat and share the coolness of Portland. She took her to the market for vegetables and some favorite book stores.  They shared their love of books. The last nine years of her life were with her family where she belonged  She was their matriarch, and Portland was their home.  

During the years I have known Marie, I have traveled all over Texas and Arizona for my career, we always kept in touch by phone.  We talked 3 or 4 times a week.  She was my touch stone, home, and best friend,  I have no idea what I am going to do without her.  Rushing home from work last night, I thought I have to call Marie, then I realized Marie is not here anymore.  It hit me. Besides the heaviness in my heart and tears in my eyes, I want to praise God for bringing this special woman in my life. In quite tribute and prayer, I commit her soul to you God.  After all, you just loaned her to me.  I know she will keep you laughing in heaven.