Oma Gay Nichols

Oma Gay Nichols, Born October 16, 1938, to Sam and Mabel (Wedel) Koehn and passed away on December 25, 2025. Oma Gay grew up on the homestead north of Isabella and attended the Standard Grade School and later graduated from Fairview High School. After graduating from high school, she attended college classes at Phillips University while working for Ed Montgomery at the law office in Fairview.

While attending Standard Grade School she met the love of her life John Nichols. The two were married on May 23, 1956, at the Progressive School. After they were married, they moved to Isabella and later to Oma Gays childhood home where she lived until her death.

In 1977 Oma Gay purchased the insurance agency from John Stricker. Oma Gay proudly sold insurance for 48 years. During her life she was involved in various organizations from FFA, Republican committees, Major County Historical Society, Fairview Fellowship Home, and other community boards.

She enjoyed bowling in her younger years but later loved attending all her sons and grandsons activities, from sporting events to stock shows and shooting sports.

She was a devout Christian, attending New Hopedale Mennonite Church in Meno. She always strived to glorify God and lend a helping hand to everyone that she met.

Oma Gay is survived by her three sons. Kyndell Nichols of Ringwood, Kent Nichols of Shattuck, and Kyle Nichols and wife, Suzye of Ringwood; four grandsons, Levon Nichols of Ringwood, Lathan Nichols of Ringwood, Dalton Nichols of Ringwood, and Case Nichols of Shattuck.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Mabel Koehn; sister, Patricia Koehn; husband, John Nichols; son Kevin Nichols; daughter-in-law, Michelle Nichols.

Services for Oma Gay will be Wednesday December 31, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the New Hopedale Mennonite Church in Meno. Burial will follow at Cedar Cemetery near Fairview. Visitation with family will be Tuesday, December 30, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. in Helena.

Memorials may be made to New Hopedale Mennonite Church.