Nichols, Joyce L. "Jo" Joyce L. "Jo" Nichols passed away peacefully on July 28, 2012, while surrounded by family members. Born Oct. 10, 1928, in Estelline, Texas, she spent most of her life in Dallas. She worked at the Wall Street Journal's Dallas office, owned a gift shop and helped countless tourists find their way while working at the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. She was a voracious reader, completing an average of 72 books a year and participating in a book club for 18 years. She also enjoyed travel, crafting, movies, gardening, shopping for antiques, home decorating and the daily New York Times crossword puzzle. She wasaddicted to House Hunters International and British crime dramas on PBS. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren, who adored their Granny Nick. She was preceded in death in 1986 by her husband, James Goodyear Nichols. Also preceding her were father Odus Henry Garren, mother Ernie Mae Ramsey and brother Bill Garren. She is survived by her children: Nancy Nichols, Bill Nichols and wife Sarah and Amy Drago and husband Mike; six grandchildren: Taylor Ann Nichols, Jamie Nichols, Katie Drago, Hannah Nichols, Mia Drago, and James Drago; sister Anita Murray Davis and husband John Davis; nephew Don Murray; and niece Susan Murray-Grage. A service will be held on Aug. 1, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave. in Dallas. Jo's final request was "to be buried in her blue jeans" and "no flowers." In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Memory of Jo Nichols, Friends of the Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young St., Dallas, TX 75201. All of the donations in Jo's name will provide memorial plates in the thousands of books she checked out of the library.
Published in Dallas Morning News on July 31, 2012
