Barbara Ruth Nichols

Barbara Ruth (Bowen) Nichols, age 95, passed away on July 31st, 2025, which just so happened to be her late husband’s birthday, after a short struggle with having broken her hip, her first broken bone in her life. Barbara was born on March 24, 1930 to Edward “Ned” Bowen and Jesse “Becky” Bowen somewhere in Washington County, Oklahoma. The family lived in a few different places in the county, but the one most spoken of was “down by the Caney River.” Around the age of 18, she was employed at Phillips Petroleum Company, and was proud to work in the mail room there. She still lived at home, and was able to provide some income for her family, but she was also able to spend some of her income on clothes, shoes and matching handbags. She was beautiful and fit and trim, so the fashions were always appealing on her. Mom met her husband because he was a gifted fast-pitch softball pitcher, and played on a team with some of her brothers. They wed in January of 1951, going on to have three children, Sandra Gail, Jerry Andrew, and Penny Diane Nichols. They had decided before marriage that they would do whatever it took, financially, for her to be a homemaker, and stay at home mom. Barbara was a bowler, coached by her husband, Nick, and winning numerous patches and pins. Other interests included boating, fishing, playing in casino’s, but especially dancing with Nick in a country music setting. Everyone enjoyed watching their smooth, effortless dancing. It may have been the one thing she missed most after he passed away in 2004. She was also one of the OKC Thunder’s most devoted fans. She did not miss a game, including their championship game on the evening of her recent hip surgery. That team, unknowingly, was her second family. Barbara also LOVED her dogs! Over the years, she had several, but most recently lost both Sugar and Dolly just this spring, which was quite devastating for her. Barbara was preceeded in death by her parents, E.R. “Ned” Bowen and Jesse “Becky” Bowen, all eight of her siblings: Walter, “Wad” Bowen, A.L. “Monk” Bowen, Blanch Goodson, Tom Bowen, Joe Bowen, Sadie Bowen, Jerry Bowen and Peggy Smith. She was also preceded in death by her Husband, Roy Gene “Nick” Nichols and her granddaughter, Nikki Kay Dewar. She is survived by her three children, Sandy, Andy and Penny, five grandchildren, Lora Katherine “Katy” Baker, Kylle “Peeper” Creekmore, Emma Lee Ransom, Megan Nichols and Travis Nichols, and eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Barbara Ann is survived by her children, Sandy Nichols, Andy (Lily) Nichols and Penny (Gary) Creekmore, Grandchildren, Emma Lee Ransom, Megan Nichols, Travis Nichols, Katy Baker and Kyle Creekmore, Great Grandchildren Natalee, Derek, Andy 1, Andy 2 and Andy 3 and one great-great grandchild Bronsyn. She is preceded in death by her parents, Husband Roy “Nick” Nichols in 2004 grand daughter Nikki Kay Dewer, siblings Al “Monk”, Walter “Wad”, Blanche, Tom, Joe, Sadie Bess, Jerry and Peggy and two precious fur babies Dolly and Sugar.

Barbara Ruth Nichols

March 24, 1930 - July 31, 2025