Marie Nickerson

Marie Lavina Nickerson

April 22, 1926 – December 13, 2015

Marie L. Nickerson, age 89, passed on from this life on Sunday, December 13, 2015.

Marie was born on April 22, 1926 to Jose Guillermo and Mary Adela (Garcia) Lobato.  Her given name was Marie Lauriana, Lobato.

Marie was by her nature a tom boy, and by circumstance a country girl.  She was strong willed, mischievous, good hearted, independent, hardworking and loved to sing along with the country western singer Patsy Cline.  As a strong woman, she took pride in the fact that she could shoot, ride a horse bareback, and do anything a man could do.

Her early years were spent in Mancos, Colorado where she was born, helping to take care of young siblings and farm animals that her father and mother depended on to support their family, and gaining a reputation along with her brother Willie for being “full of the dickens”.

At the age of 14, she informed her father that someday she was going to marry Abe, one of the Nickerson boys from Mancos.  Shortly after this conversation, she found herself staying and taking care of the Nickerson family who had been quarantined because of an outbreak of scarlet fever.  A few years later she and the love of her life, Abe, whom she later would refer to as “my honey” were married on February 02, 1945 by a justice of the peace in Aztec, New Mexico; then a short while later solemnizing the marriage in the Catholic Church.

While Marie worked at various jobs over the years, her life was devoted to taking care of her Abe and children, as well as other family members when needed, and would willingly sacrifice her own comforts to do so.  She was “young at heart” and willing to play all kinds of games, in particular, Aggravation.

Marie had an artistic talent, winning ribbons and awards at school and fairs.  She was a recognized master craft person in knitting and crochet.  Her work, and in particular her afghans, are considered works of art and cherished by all who have received them as gifts.

She gave thanks every day and at every meal and despite her frustration and struggle with understanding conflict in the world, never lost her faith in God.

A resident of Utah for the past 70 years, she was a member of Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Layton.

She is survived by her son Bill Nickerson and wife Paula of Farmington, New Mexico; four daughters, Donna Yano and husband Kent of St. George, Utah, Sandra Nickerson and husband Rick Kurcab of Boulder, Colorado, Nita Nickerson of Los Angeles,  California and Jean Nickerson and husband Robert Wilson of Kaysville, Utah; sisters Frances Pacheco of Tabernash, Colorado, Annie Olivas of Denver, Colorado, Lillian Espinosa from Elko, Nevada, Carolyn Chairez and husband Thomas of Delta, Colorado and brother James F. Lobato and wife Barbara of Olathe, Gardiner, Washington.

She is further survived by ten grandchildren: Stephanie Yano of Oregon, Abe P. Nickerson, II of New Mexico, Brooke Nickerson-Kurcab of California, James S. Leese of California, Jared Wilson of Utah, Emily Wilson of Utah, Sarah Kate Nickerson-Wilson of Utah, Cortney Jurado Nickerson and husband Sebastian Jurado of Spain, Dean W. Kurcab of Colorado, Nicole Sullivan of California, and two great grandchildren, Jean Lorenz-Leese and Yanira Jurado, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, friends and godchildren whom she helped baptize into the Catholic faith.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Guillermo (Willie) and Adela Lobato, a brother Willie J. Lobato, sisters Delia Cordova, Lucy T. Stucker, Victoria Garcia, eldest grandson Derek Nickerson Yano and the love of her life, Abe P. Nickerson.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 10 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 210 S. Chapel Street, Layton.  Friends may visit family from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 North Main.  A Vigil with Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.