Sharon Kay Nichols passed away on August 31, 2018 in Fortuna after a year-long battle with a brain tumor.

She was born on March 25, 1943 in El Dorado, Kansas to Kathrine and James Scott II. In the 1950s, the family moved to California, where she grew up in the Napa Valley then in Humboldt County. Mom married Dale Carney in 1962. Mom worked as a nurse’s aid in nursing homes at times. When her brother-in-law was severely injured in a car accident she help him learn to talk and function again. In 1967 they adopted their only child, Johnnie Carney. Most of the time she stayed home taking care of the house and raising a child, but did work as a cook in nursing homes a few times to earn extra money.

Later, she and her sister Kathy owned and ran the Tree House Café in Redcrest, where they made and sold homemade pies.

Mom enjoyed cooking, family gatherings, fishing and just having fun with family and friends. Mom always enjoyed being around kids and young adults and made many friends over the years through work. For several years mom enjoyed singing karaoke with her sister Kathy and many friends. After she and Dad divorced they remained in contact and were very close until his death in 1998. For 17 years Mom lived in Rio Dell in senior housing, where she made many friends and enjoyed helping with the food program and cooking for others. Mom was an excellent cook, and through the years made most food from scratch. One of my favorite foods I remember as a kid was her homemade bread, especially when she fried it.

The family moved several times and lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, Redding and Humboldt County through the years.

Mom was preceded in death by her mother, Kathrine Nichols; her father, James Scott II; stepfather Ralph Nichols; brothers-in-law Johnnie G Carney and Von Dean Carney; husband, Dale Carney; nephews Keith Summerfield, Eric Day, Tim Carney and Tina Carney.

She is survived by her son, Johnnie Carney; granddaughter, Claudine Lotspitch; siblings Marge Evans, James “Dick” Scott III and wife Loretta, Howard Scott and wife Denise, Kathy Day, Elma Schultz and husband Earl, and Ralph “Buzz” Nichols; sister-in-law Connie Summerfield and husband Glen. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces. great-nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends too numerous to name.

We would like to thank the team at UCSF, the people of the Jewish Home of San Francisco, the people at Fortuna Rehab and Hospice of Humboldt for all their help and support over a very difficult time for the last year. I would like to especially thank Merny at Fortuna Rehab for pulling strings and getting mom closer so she could be closer to family the last three months of her life. There will be a memorial service at a date to be determined.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Sharon Nichols’ family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.