Elizabeth Jane Nichols
A Celebration of Life will be held for Elizabeth Jane Nichols, 92, a longtime Gloucester resident who passed away peacefully on June 13 of this year. She was born in Connersville, IN on November 16, 1930, to Mary Elizabeth Shelton, nee Welch, and Lucullus Franklin Shelton. Jane had a lifetime love of the world around her and her community. This love guided her through her educational career as well as later in life. She started college at Western College for Women and after completing a twoyear degree there, she attended Indiana University earning a BS in Biology. She then moved to Southern California and began attending the University of San Diego. There she earned her MS in zoology and began working as a researcher. While in California, she met the love of her life, Maynard M. Nichols. In September of 1956, they were married and spent almost 65 wonderful and adventurous years together. Ten years after they were married, they made a leap of faith together and moved to Gloucester. In Gloucester, Jane chose to occupy her time as a homemaker and mother, reading, traveling, playing bridge, sailing, and volunteering. Volunteer pursuits included Riverside Walter Reed Hospital Volunteers, Ware Episcopal Church and their Women's Group, Ware River Yacht Club, the Women's Club of Gloucester, Concerts By The Bay, Fairfield Foundation, and Botetourt Elementary PTO. Jane and Maynard's love of travel took them on many adventures together. They were fortunate to travel the world extensively including multiple trips to Europe, Canada, South America, and the Caribbean, then spending their retirement summers in Maine. She is survived by her only daughter, Linda Jane Nichols Motley and her husband David, and three grandchildren, Bryce, Reece, and Savannah Motley. She is buried beside her husband at Ware Episcopal Church where she was a long-time member. Memorials can be made in her honor to The Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society. The family invites her friends to join the Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the Ware River Yacht Club, 5992 Ware Point Road, Gloucester from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.