Ollie Mae Nichol

Ollie Mae Nichol, 93, of Corvallis, Oregon passed away on February 14, 2025. She was born on March 8 th , 1931, in Harrisburg, Oregon, during the heart of the Great Depression, to Flaura and James Huddelston. Mae was the tenth of thirteen children, and she grew up helping her family work string bean crops in West Stayton and pick cotton seasonally in California. Mae enjoyed sharing fond memories of her loving parents, her mom’s warm biscuits made on the woodstove each morning, her beloved dog old Frank, their faith, and countless stories of daily rural adventures. She started driving at age 10 and loved driving her entire life up until age 88. Her brother gave her a guitar and she started playing when she was 8 years old. She played guitar and piano her entire life, up until she was 90. Mae loved playing old country tunes in music circles with her church friends and at home, filling the house with her melodic voice. 

Adulthood started early for that generation and Mae, at age 16, married Walter Donald Nichol in 1947. Together they raised six children, with an epic beginning on five acres in Turner, Oregon in a house that started out with no running water or electricity, bordered by the railroad track. For the next twenty years they lived there raising their four boys, creating a fine home, garden, and barn that sustained their family. She loved telling stories of that time, including how she made meals for the men who were riding the rails. The fencepost was marked, indicating that this was a safe place to hop off the train with a warm plate of food available. They even managed a memorable road trip to Yellowstone with the four boys and including her mom Flaura too.

As the years went by, Mae realized she wanted daughters and she asked this with many prayers, which were finally granted when she was 40, with two daughters born in consecutive years. Her beloved mom, Flaura, got to meet and hold her first daughter before she passed away. The next twenty years were spent fixing up their one-acre property on Shaw Square Rd in Aumsville, Oregon that Mae and Don bought using the GI Bill. Over time, they transformed this house and property into an oasis for their large family. This is where they raised their two daughters, helped raise many grandchildren, an abundant garden, chickens, an occasional goat, a small orchard, bees with a honey shop, a large pole building, and even a horse with a barn they built. During this time, Mae cared for so many and for this beautiful home. She was incredibly creative and brought beauty into our world with tole painting, macrame, quilt making, canning food from the garden and gleaning, making music, dancing and creating many large delicious meals for the many that came to relax and enjoy each other’s company at their home. 

In her later years, she experienced cultural and travel adventures with many friends, including her dear friend Ed Kaplan. This included an RV trip through Alaska where she proved to her friends what an amazing fisherwoman she truly was. Mae was devoted to her family and she loved to entertain, laugh, play games, and make music. She embraced a philosophy of giving throughout her life. Her door was always open with a beautiful smile and a warm inviting home. Mae was resilient, resourceful, and caring. Her legacy and love will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. 

She is survived by her sons Ed Nichol, Larry Nichol, Steve Nichol and Dave Nichol, her daughters Valerie Gallagher and Melanie Gonzales-Nichol. Her grandchildren Michelle Ray, Riley Nichol, Amber Dawn Nichol, Stacy Nichol, Dylan Nichol, Jessie Nichol, Kenny Nichol, Leo Gallagher, Marie Gallagher and Lucy Gallagher. She is also survived by many great grandchildren.

This is a poem that Mae wrote that we found on a sheet of paper with her beautiful cursive:

Years Ago by Mae Nichol

There has never been another story like it

I heard it first when I was just a girl

The one who made the earth and all its beauty

The one who gave the oyster it’s pearl

The one who made the moon and stars above us

And the sun that shines to make the flowers grow

And the little honey bees and birds of beauty

And the mountains high and deserts down below

The one who showed us how to love our neighbor

And to care about this land that is our home

And to live each day as if it was our last one

And do good deeds until He says “well done”

The story that I heard we all should hear it

And show our love to Him who loves us so

He’s the ony one who can save us

From all the sin and strife here below

So put your hand in His and He will guide you

We’ll make mistakes but He will understand

Just look ahead and walk straight onto Glory

And live forever in that promise land

That story is the life blood of our toils here

Let’s make sure that everybody knows

How much He cares and loves His every creature

And helps us through all our cares and woes