Obituary of Margaret Jean Nicholson

Jean Nicholson of Chico passed away peacefully early on the morning of Sunday, November 23, 2008 at a local care facility following a brief illness. Jean Nicholson was born Margaret Jean Morrison on May 26, 1924 in Mayville, Michigan, to Martin Lee and Mary Elizabeth Morrison. She attended Mayville High School, then entered the Army Nurse Corps. Jean graduated from St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Saginaw, MI in 1946, was licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN), and held various nursing positions in Michigan. She worked for the State of Michigan Department of Civil Defense on an innovative blood-typing program, in doctors' offices and hospitals, as an industrial nurse and also taught student nurses. Jean moved to California in 1965 with husband G. Robert "Bob" Nicholson. She worked at Enloe Hospital in Chico in the 1960's and 70's as a surgical nurse, and later with the North Valley Blood Bank before retiring. She also volunteered for 20 years with the Enloe Hospice program after her retirement. Jean was an avid golfer and past Captain of the Butte Creek Women's Golf Club. She loved good music, dancing, Broadway plays and enjoyed vacationing in Hawaii and New York City. She also enjoyed playing bridge, cooking, sewing, knitting and needlepoint projects. Jean was preceded in death by her younger sister, Patricia Ann Morrison and husband Bob Nicholson. She is survived by sons Stephen Nicholson (Marylynne) of Pleasant Hill, CA and Joseph Smiddy (Linda) of Flushing, MI, along with grandchildren Lalania Missentzis and Aerie Smiddy of Michigan, Katy Nicholson of Pleasant Hill and three great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 8 at 1:00 PM at the Brusie Funeral Home in Chico, followed by a reception at Chico Mobile Country Club. Memorial donations can be made to Enloe Hospice in Chico, or to the American Cancer Society.