RUTH ANN NICKELS

Anne Ruth Nickels went home to the Lord on Wednesday July 15. Waiting to greet her were her parents, Launa Marrs Nickels and Walter Washington Nickels Jr.; her beloved sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth “Betty” and Ralph Wells; lifelong friend Nancy Mercer; and “Missy” her faithful furry companion. 

Remaining to carry forward her love are niece and nephew Judith Ann 

Graham and Walter Scott Wells, and their spouses Daniel Graham and Barabara Wells; great and great-great nieces and nephews: Rebekah and Wes Saylors and Ann Graham; Matthew, Sara Rose, Andrew and Walker Wells; and Adam, Emily, Sawyer and Ruby Wells; along with many loved ones in her church family at Trinity United Methodist Church (TUMC) in Big Stone Gap. 

She was hardly a month shy of her 99th birthday at her passing. 

Anne devoted her entire life to her church and community in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. She retired from a long career at the Westmoreland Coal Company and went on to use her accounting skills for years afterward in service to TUMC. For many years she was an active member of the Stonega Veterans Association. She enjoyed traveling with friends and family in her retirement, and loved coming home to the peaceful mountains. 

The family invites friends and loved ones to join them to celebrate her life on August 8th at Trinity United Methodist Church in Big Stone Gap. Visitation will begin at 3:00 pm, with a celebration of life at 4:00 pm, followed by a graveside service at the Nickels family plot at Glencoe Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Trinity United Methodist Church. 

From those who knew her as “Auntie”, we offer this remembrance: 

“Get. In. This. House!” It is the only demand that we ever heard Auntie make, aside from an occasional admonishment that we should “mind your elders” if we ever tried to futilely resist her ever-flowing generosity. When family or friends would come to visit, she would be eagerly waiting by the door to pull us into her home, relieved that her wait was over to shower us in love and affection. And away from home, that constant warmth, generosity and kindness was easily felt by everyone she met- friend, family or stranger alike. 

As a steadfast friend, throughout her years of service, she never faltered in honoring her commitments, and her ability to remain hopeful, optimistic and compassionate regardless of the situation should inspire us all to see the miracle of each new day, and the joy that comes from a life of devotion. 

The tally of pecan pies and pound cakes she made for the world is lost to time. But we know by the thinly-worn bottom of her metal mixing bowl that so many bellies and souls were nourished by this expression of her love. To the very last, her attention was on others, offering her hospital lunch to visitors, becoming visibly frustrated when the offer was politely declined. 

Auntie always took great care of what she had, and she didn’t complain or make excuses. “How are you feeling today?” a hospice nurse recently asked her. “Well, I am fine, how are you?”, she replied, as a matter of fact. Though she survived two bouts of breast cancer, and suffered from an accumulation of afflictions as time wore on, she stubbornly refused to be defined by her ailments. How lucky we might be to have a fraction of her grit. 

If Grace is unearned and undeserved love freely given, Auntie leaves us with the greatest of treasure, a debt that we can only pay forward. She truly was a living beacon of God's everlasting Grace, and we go forward knowing that when our time comes, she will be waiting at the door, urging us with love and childlike excitement to get in the house. 

An online registry is available for the family at www.holdingfuneralhome.com 

Holding Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.