Kitty Lou Nicholson

Kitty Lou (Oswald) Nicholson was born August 23,1933 and passed away peacefully at the Olathe Medical Center Hospice House on September 12, 2025 with her loved ones by her side. She led a life of community service and friendship for over sixty-five years in Olathe doing many things she loved. She grew up in the small town of Wakefield, KS with a graduating class of twelve and went on to receive her degree in Home Economics at the then Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science, which is now her beloved Kansas State University. Purple became a favorite color of hers along with aqua and hot pink. After college she began her life-long social service work with the Johnson County social welfare office where, through a colleague, she met and married Eldon Nicholson, a graduate of Kansas University. It was through her work with the county that they eventually adopted twins Brigette and Michelle and built a life of service to others. With Eldon active in community organizations and by her side, Kitty served in Jaycees, Olathe Jr. Service League, Daughter's of the Nile, Eastern Star, Job's Daughters, Jabberwocks, and Olathe Booster Club. Kitty was an accomplished piano player and frequently played the piano in those organizations, for wedding soloists, the girls' church choir, and for friends at Christmas get-togethers. Friends were a fond part of Eldon and Kitty's lives. They participated in Holiday Club, Gourmet Dinner Cub, and were avid tennis club players until injuries. He became more active in golf and she skilled in bridge playing in seven different groups and involved in the round robin letter-writing group and Culture Club. Kitty and her friends were known for the fun they created, especially celebrating when all the women turned forty. For Kitty, they had a funeral procession, led by a police escort, to their bridge game. The highlight of Kitty's social service career was when she began a thirty year position with Olathe Medical Center as Coordinator of Volunteers for the Hospice program and was part of the charter group that advocated, fundraised, and established the Hospice House care facility on the OMC campus. Kitty was recognized for her work when she was selected as the OMC Outstanding Employee for September-October in 1996. Throughout her life, Kitty liked reading cookbooks to try new recipes for her family and friends, enjoyed family trips in the U.S. and abroad when Eldon worked for TWA, enjoyed weekends at the lake with Eldon, family, and friends, volunteering at the Grace United Methodist clothing closet, and being a mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother making family gatherings extra-special. She is preceded in death by Eldon and is missed and loved by her daughters, grandson and wife, granddaughter and family, cousin and family, sister-in-law and niece, and many, many dear friends who meant so much to her. Her Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 1pm at Grace United Methodist Church, 11485 S. Ridgeview Rd., Olathe, with visitation following. The girls invite others to wear K-State, or her favorite colors purple, aqua, or hot pink, with them to remember their mom. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in her memory to the Olathe Hospice House or Grace United Methodist Church.