Nola May Tinker

Nola May Meikle Tinker, 86, of Idaho Falls, passed away Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. She was under the care of Aspen Home Health and Hospice.

Nola was born July 6, 1939, to Stephen James Meikle and Mabel Lillian Anglesey Meikle in Menan. She grew up in Lewisville and Roberts and graduated from high school in Roberts in 1956.

On August 5, 1956, she married Delmar Freeman Tinker in Ely, Nevada. After 46 years of marriage, Delmar passed away on August 28, 2002. She made her home in Menan, Lewisville, Rigby, and Idaho Falls. She worked at various jobs, including Idahoan, Porter’s Printing, Rigby Title and Development, and First American Title.

Nola was known for her beautiful smile and her contagious joy. If you ever met her, you instantly loved her. Her nature was to please, and she strived to please everyone around her. She worked hard and possessed an amazing work ethic. No matter where she worked or what the task was, she would do it with a smile and with impeccable accuracy.

She was an Evangelical Christian and attended Christ Community church. She enjoyed sewing, painting, crafting, reading, camping, family gatherings, and puzzling. Nola was known for her kind smile and for being the sweetest person on the planet.

She was very artistic and could quite literally excel at anything she put her mind to. She loved to paint, sew, create wood crafts with her husband, read, and spend time with her grandchildren. Her home always exhibited her loving personality, like being wrapped in your favorite warm blanket. At Christmastime she would decorate her home to feel as if you walked straight into Santa’s workshop. Her love language was certainly hospitality, making every person feel comfortable and welcome, as if they had known her their entire life.

For 15 of the last 17 years of her life, she lived with her daughter and son-in-law. She so enjoyed going on vacation with them to Glacier, and the beaches of California’s central coast. Her very favorite thing to do was explore the beach gathering treasures. She would fill her sweatshirt pouch with shells, stones, driftwood, and anything else she found interesting. Nola’s final two years were spent living in a memory care facility. Unfortunately, she was burdened with Alzheimer's/Dementia for many years. That did not deter her from spreading her light and love, and touching the hearts of her loving caregivers, and everyone whose path crossed hers.

Heaven is certainly rejoicing at the arrival of one of God’s most beautiful creations. She fought the good fight, and she won first prize - heavenly glory with Jesus!

Nola is survived by her daughter, Sheila M. Tinker (Steven) Schmid of Idaho Falls; 10 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Delmar F. Tinker; her son, Clinton F. Tinker; her grandson, Clinton R. Henrie; her parents, Mabel and Stephen Meikle; her brothers, Wendell Meikle and Gary Meikle; and her sister, Maxine Meikle Mulvane.

A Graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, January 26, 2026, at Annis-Little Butte Cemetery. For those attending the graveside, please dress appropriately for the weather. Following the service, a light luncheon will be served for family and friends at Christ Community Church, 5742 S. 5th W., Idaho Falls. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com.