Linda Marie Nichols, 69, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away peacefully Monday, December 30, 2024 in her home, surrounded by family. A visitation will be held on January 24, 2025 at 2:00PM at Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa, with a memorial service to follow at 3:00PM.
Linda was born on January 13, 1955 in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of Donald J. and Betty M. Owsley; and was the fourth of nine siblings. Linda moved to Prairie Village, Kansas in 1958 where she attended St. Ann Catholic School and Bishop Miege High School. In March of 1978 she began dating her future husband, Stephen W. Nichols, after meeting at the Westin Crown Center Hotel where they both worked. They were married June 29, 1979, and built a beautiful life and family together for 45 years.
Linda was a wonderful wife, the best mom, an amazing sister/aunt and the kind of friend we all aspire to be. Linda was blessed to have scores of friends; relationships cherished from childhood, friendships gained through the northland neighborhoods she called home, the social/school activities of her kids, from her work as a preschool teacher at North Cross, and her time spent as the most upbeat Guest Service Associate at the Zona Rosa mall.
She had a love of children and a knack for entertaining/educating them, as proof of her time spent as a teacher, but her happiest and most recent role to date, was that of grandma. Linda never missed a birthday party and was usually the first to arrive with some kind of treat and treasure. She was the first to offer trips to the park, pool days on the driveway, and slumber parties with Gam Gam (a joke - and not what we really called her). She even pretended to be interested in Minecraft.
If you’re friends with Linda (either in life or online) you’ll know that time spent with family and friends comprised her most favorite memories. She was the hostess with the mostest, the most fun travel companion, a dedicated soccer cheerleader, and a really good dancer. (She’d want us to say that.) She was brave, strong, funny, thoughtful, and kind. Whether you knew her as wife, mom, sister, grandma, Godmom, Auntie Linda, Pretty Linda, or friend, it goes without saying that every role she played was a cherished one.
Linda leaves behind a legacy of cheerfulness, humor and love. The world down here feels dimmer without her in it, but the stars are shining brighter.
Linda is preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Judy Holtkamp, Nancy Reilly and Joan Owsley, and one beloved son Adam Nichols. Linda is survived by her husband Steve Nichols of the home; daughter Audrey Sisco (husband David Sisco), son Alex Nichols; daughter in law Alysha Nichols, one sister Mary Beth Larson (husband Mike Larson); four brothers, David Owsley (wife Mary Owsley), Martin Owsley (wife Laura Owsley), Daniel Owsley (wife Valerie Owsley) and Vincent Owsley; two grandsons Drew and David Dean Sisco; nine nieces, seven nephews and many great nieces and nephews - all of whom she loved, very, very much.