Arlene O. Nichols' Obituary
Arlene O Nichols passed away January 17, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. She was born January 09, 1940 to Albert and Irene Odom and graduated from Pearl River High School in 1958. After high school she attended the University of Mississippi College of Nursing and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1962. In 1968, one week before her daughter was born, she completed the requirements for a Master of Science Degree in Nursing at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and in 1987 she was Certified in Graduate Gerontology and Disability Management from the University of Florida.
She held faculty appointments at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham, University of Texas Medical Center in Houston, University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore and the University of Florida College of Nursing where she was selected as the (1979-1980) Teacher of the Year. In 1979 she published one of the top selling nursing text books titled “Pearls for Nursing Practice” published by Lippincott/Harper. Also, she was the Coordinator and Chief Life Care Reviewer for Oak Hammock at the University of Florida and served as a reviewer for Lippincott and Mosby Publishing Companies. Her other professional activities included; President and member of the Alachua County Division of the American Heart Association; founded the first Mended Hearts, Inc Chapter in North Central Florida; served on the American Heart Association Nursing Research Committee (1986-1990); Secretary of District Ten American Nursing Association; member of Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society. After retiring from the University of Florida, she participated as a member of court appointed examining committees and started her own Legal Nurse Consulting Company.
Arlene loved to travel with her husband and friends. She visited all 50 United States, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and most of the countries in Europe. She and her family lived in The Netherlands, Australia and England. One of her favorite countries to visit was Italy, especially the Tuscany area and her favorite city was Paris. Her friends and neighbors will remember her as being full of life, vibrant, loving and friendly to everyone she met. She loved playing golf, riding her bicycle, driving her Mini Cooper convertible, hanging out at Starbucks in the Tioga Town Center, attending her Bible Study Group and playing the piano. She was a special child of God and she will be missed by everyone who knew her. Her death left a void here on earth that will never be refilled.
Arlene is survived by her loving husband of 56 years: Wilmer Nichols: one daughter Cami Heck and her husband Alan of Okinawa, Japan: one Son Cory Nichols of Jacksonville Beach, Florida: and two grandchildren Eric and Julia Heck.
A memorial service celebrating Arlene’s life will be held Saturday, January 26 at 2:00pm at Westside Baptist Church, 10,000 W Newberry, Road, Gainesville, Florida. Arlene loved flowers, so in lieu of donations to charities or associations, please send flowers.
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