Grace Charlotte Nichols

Grace Charlotte Nichols (74) died April 15, 2016, once again proving in life the only constants are death and taxes. Grace, who despised being called Gracie, was known to sign her name Grace C. Nichols. A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, April 30th, 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Always fighting mainstream social conventions she was a professional single mother before it was trendy. A medical technologist for over 40 years, she saw the lab change from mixing controls to automation and then computerization without a second thought. Born in New Britain Connecticut, she attended New Britain High School and participated in many youth orchestras. She had many memories growing up on Peace Court, playing in St Mary's cemetery, and heading to the city park from Prospect St. In 1998 she left New England to do her Dixie Chick thing, where she sought the "Wide Open Spaces" of Iowa. She settled in Iowa City, where she worked for the University of Iowa as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist until she retired in 2004. Married 3 or 4 times, husbands include Joe Medina, James Moore (real name a mystery), Earl Halyes, and then Mr. Moore again. Grace moved to Tipton, IA in retirement to be closer to her family. Always her grandchildren's benefactor, Grandchild Alek, Arizona & Andrew would like their "Ooma" to be remembered as a very loving person in her own "unique" way. Grace was a grandchild spoiler, and she would wear that badge with pride. Grace was quite the character. She spoke her truth all the time, no matter what. This always made family dinners exciting. Grace could be hard to love, but if you did she made it worth it. She would love you more than she could love herself. There are many lives today that have received a helping hand from Grace. Grace is preceded in death by her parents, sisters; Ann Austin, Jane Nichols, Sarah Nichols, son Scott Austin, and granddaughter Aimi Austin-Coursey. Survivors include her daughter Jennifer Comstock (Aaron Comstock) IA, Step-son Dale Moore (Irma Moore) CT, grandchildren Devin Austin CT, Alek, Arizona & Andrew Comstock IA, Great-grandchild Aiden Coursey, Ex-husband Mr. Moore MA.