1920
V. "Elizabeth"
2018
V. "Elizabeth" Elizabeth Nikolaus
November 29, 1920 — July 20, 2018
Violet Elizabeth Nikolaus died, peacefully, in the early morning hours of Friday, July 20, 2018, at her home in Show Low, Arizona from causes incident to her age. She was 97 years old. She was known as "Elizabeth" to everyone she knew and loved, although, some of them called her "Mom" and "Grandma." Elizabeth was born on Monday, November 29, 1920, in Taylor, Navajo County, Arizona to her parents, the late James Arthur and Violet (Colbath) Lewis.
She married her forever sweetheart, William Lamar Nikolaus on February 6, 1940, in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sadly, in June of 1992, Lamar died after nearly 52 years of marriage. She and her husband were wonderful parents to their six children: Gerry Wynn, deceased (Joyce nee Clark) Nikolaus, Gerald Lamar (Jolene) Nikolaus, Geraldine (Harry Lynn) Hall, Darrell Leland "D.L." Nikolaus, Lorraine (Ed, deceased) Dowdle, and Dale Ray (Nola nee Law) Nikolaus. She taught her children, through her example, how to follow the Lord's admonition of loving one another, as theirs was a tight-knit and close family.
Elizabeth was a stalwart and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her long life. She served in various leadership capacities within the women's organizations of the Church including the Snowflake Stake Young Women's President, some fifty years ago. In the mid 1970s, as the Show Low Stake of the LDS Church was being organized, Elizabeth served as its first Stake Relief Society President. She did so with grace, humility and a spirit of service that was magnified greatly through her dedication in executing all of the responsibilities associated with her calling. Elizabeth also shared her talents with her church family, as she served as her ward's organist for several years. In sharing her musical talents with the world, she helped to make hundreds of Sacrament Meetings and funeral services all the more beautiful and sacred. Because of her example, many within her own family have, likewise, blessed the lives of countless others by magnifying their own church callings.
Along with her husband, Elizabeth was co-owner of their family business, Nick's Market in Show Low. It was the place to shop in town. She worked tirelessly to help it become the successful business that it was. She was the bookkeeper and possessed incredible organization skills that helped keep the family business thriving, where Nick's Market was one of Show Low's mainstays, for decades. Her children all learned to make an honest living by the "sweat of their own brow" through the example that she and Lamar set for them.
Elizabeth developed, not only a love for but, also, an appreciation for personal and family history. She began by writing her own personal history and, later, expanded to others' histories including those of her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She even published a book about her husband, Lamar Nikolaus' Life History. Elizabeth had an insatiable appetite for history; always saving newspaper clippings, pictures, wedding announcements and funeral programs. She would regularly jot down special dates, occasions and events to help preserve an accurate history and truly believed that "a picture is worth a 1000 words." She regularly used pictures and photos to help "tell the story." In 1978, Elizabeth became the driving force behind the first history book about the Show Low Arizona Stake, which included a very detailed record of the little community of Show Low. Much of the material used for that first book came from Elizabeth's own archives. She was quite active with the Show Low Historical Society and Heritage Museum as well as the Navajo County Historical Society. Elizabeth freely gave countless hours of her own time, sometimes at a considerable personal expense, to preserve our history.
Elizabeth is survived by her children; 37 grandchildren, 94 great-grandchildren, 25 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Louise Woolford and Lotus Stott. Along with her husband and son, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Steven Kent Nikolaus and a great-granddaughter, Megan Nicole Hall.
Elizabeth is survived by her children; 37 grandchildren, 94 great-grandchildren, 25 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Louise Woolford and Lotus Stott. Along with her husband and son, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Steven Kent Nikolaus and a great-granddaughter, Megan Nicole Hall.
The public visitation and friends' calling will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Sunday, July 29, 2018, at Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona. The funeral service will begin 10:00 A.M., Monday, July 30, 2018, at the Downtown Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where additional visitation will begin 1 hour prior. The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Show Low Cemetery where Elizabeth will be laid to rest alongside her eternal companion, Lamar.
Her family is thankful for the comfort they receive in knowing that "Families Can Be Together Forever." They truly are grateful for all of the prayers offered up on their behalf during this difficult season.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of V. "Elizabeth" Elizabeth Nikolaus, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, July 29, 2018
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Mountain (no DST) time)
Owens Livingston Mortuary- White Mountain Chapel
Funeral Service
Monday, July 30, 2018
Starts at 10:00 am (Mountain (no DST) time)
Downtown Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Graveside Service
Monday, July 30, 2018
Starts at 11:45 am (Mountain (no DST) time)
Show Low Cemetery
Guestbook
Visits: 17
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