Eva Mae Nichols

Eva Mae Nichols (nee Walden), 97 of Monticello, passed away peacefully at Piatt County Nursing Home on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Eva was born on November 14, 1925, in Urbana, the daughter of Rex and Josephine (Heater) Walden. She married William Nichols on May 12, 1946, and enjoyed 76 years of marriage.

She is survived by her husband, Bill of Monticello; son, Robert Nichols (Donna) of Springfield; granddaughter Kris Blazek (Ken) of Mansfield, IL; granddaughter Kendra Watts (Rodger) of Athens, IL; four great-grandchildren: Joshua Blazek, Amber Blazek, Savannah Watts and Mitchell Watts; two great-great-grandchildren: Aubrie Puckett and Matthew Blazek.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents, and brother Francis (Fuzz) Walden, two sisters, Pauline (Bill) Eaton of Mahomet and Leota (Lloyd) Lafenhagen of Sidney, IL.

Eva graduated from Sidney High School in Sidney, Illinois and later from the Avenue School of Beauty Culture, Champaign, Il. with high honors. She operated a hair stylist shop in her home for many years and enjoyed all of her clients who became some of her best friends.

One of her greatest joys was fishing! She and Bill lived in a house on Spring Lake, just outside of Mahomet, and she would fish for Crappie any chance she got and teach her grandkids how to bait up and catch them. She and Bill would travel to Minnesota, Tennessee and Florida to fish and vacation. Together they traveled to France, Spain, Italy, England, the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii and would always return with fantastic stories.

Eva loved to sew and made most of her own clothes and a few for her granddaughters. She taught them how to sew and Kris especially took up the talent and became a seamstress in her own right. She made many quilts and gave them out to her family and numerous friends. Every grandchild has slept under one of their grandmothers quilts!

A private memorial will be planned for a later date as arrangements have yet to be finalized.

Cremation will be provided by Sunset Funeral Home and be interred at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Sidney, Illinois

No graveside services are planned.

Memorial contributions may be made in Evas honor to the Piatt County Nursing Home, 1111 North State Street, Monticello, Il. 61856.