Nichols, Caroline Dawn, 81, of Buxton, Maine, on June 8, 2012. Burial will be on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Moulton-Nichols Cemetery, Rehoboth, Mass. Arrangements are in the care of the Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home.
BUXTON- Caroline Dawn (White) Nichols was born on March 30, 1931, in Caribou, Maine, to Edmund D. White and Lillian (Norrell) White. She attended schools in Caribou and Austin, Texas (during WWII) before returning to Maine where she graduated from Presque Isle High School. Among her many activities, she was a cheer leader for the school and a member of the school choir. She attended college at the University of Maine and at Pace College in Manhattan, New York, where she excelled in secretarial studies, learning to type 100+ words per minute and graduated on the Dean’s List with 1st Honors. Upon graduation she gained employment at the United States Trust Bank on Wall Street where she worked in the secretarial pool and was subsequently selected to be secretary to one of the vice-presidents of the firm. Before she could begin that job, she met her husband-to-be, who was then a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. After a two-year courtship, they were married at the West Point Cadet Chapel and together began thirty-five years of service with the U.S. Army. Caroline was no less a member of the Army than her husband. She was always active in Army Community activities, helping young Army wives learn how to manage their households. She was a loyal supporter of all Army activities. During her four years at Fort Carson, Colorado, she rarely missed a military promotion, retirement, awards or change of command ceremony, often standing in the cold and snow to help honor those who had achieved recognition. She was affectionately known to the troops as The Parade Lady. Despite over thirty moves in thirty-five years, across the country and the world, she was always gracious towards others, frequently hosting dinners and receptions before her household goods were unpacked. Twice, while her husband was assigned to Korea and to Vietnam for over a year each time, she raised their children and watched over her own aging parents. Through all those moves, hundreds of goodbyes to both family and friends, broken dishes, chipped furniture and running households from a suitcase, she managed to keep everyone smiling and laughing. Military life is especially demanding, yet she remained eternally optimistic. From one assignment to another, for 35 years, her home was where you wanted to be. Following her husband’s retirement in 1987, they settled in Buxton, Maine, where Caroline became active in the Buxton Garden Club and the University of Maine Extension Group. She also devoted countless hours as a volunteer assistant at the West Buxton Public Library, where a room is dedicated to her and her husband. She was liked and admired by everyone with whom she came in contact and was adored by her husband.
She is survived by her husband, Major General Stephen E. Nichols, U.S. Army, Retired; by her four children, Colonel S. David Nichols, U.S. Army, Retired in Kansas, Major Andrew T. Nichols, U.S. Army, Retired, in North Carolina, Kathryn (Nichols) Moon of Hollis, Maine, and Donald E. Nichols of Colorado. In addition, she is survived by eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Caroline’s family is deeply appreciative of the assistance that they received during her last days from the Hospice of Southern Maine, especially Addie Holsten, her nurse, Jessica Krupp, who lavished daily care on her, and “Our Lady of the Soft Hands”, Lisa Monroe.
Visiting hours were on Tuesday, June 12, from 4-7 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. funeral service at the Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, located on the corners of Rts 202 and 4A (13 Portland Rd) in Buxton (Bar Mills). Burial will be on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Moulton-Nichols Cemetery, Moulton Rd. in Rehoboth, MA. www.DCPate.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Buxton Garden Club, c/o Elaine Sargent, 524 River Road, Buxton, ME 04093 and the West Buxton Public Library, P.O. Box 348, Buxton, ME 04093.
