Marie Willis Nickelson was born in Franklin, Texas on July 4, 1924 to Hubert Allison Willis and Sebie Grant.  She passed away on September 16, 2018 at the age of 94.

Marie was a 1941 graduate of Franklin High School and attended Southwest Texas (now Texas State).  She married William Asa Nickelson, Jr. in Seattle, Washington on January 2, 1944 while he served in the US Naval Air Force.  During the war, they lived in Seattle, Long Beach, and San Diego on the West Coast and in Miami and Pensacola on the East Coast.  At the end of World War II they returned to Franklin where they made their permanent home and Asa co-owned Franklin Lumber Company with his brother Ranzell.   Their daughter Sherron was born in 1948, and son Keith joined them in 1949.

Marie was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Franklin where she and Asa served faithfully for the remainder of their lives.  She taught Sunday School for over fifty years.  She loved her Lord with a deep and abiding faith.

Marie and Asa were active in many civic organizations.  She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter 311, serving as Worthy Matron for two terms.  Marie was an active member of Franklin Woman's Reading since 1947, and she was awarded the Volunteer Clubwoman of the Year Award in 2015 from the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs for outstanding service to her community over the period of a lifetime.

Marie and Asa were instrumental in organizing and building Oak Grove Country Club where she was an avid golfer.  She loved and cheered for her Baylor Bears, the alma mater of both of her children, three grandsons, and two great-grandsons.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents Hubert and Sebie Willis; her husband Asa in 2002; Daughter-in-law, Karen Nickelson; two brothers, Joe Carl and Hubert Willis; three sisters, Catherine Powell, Sue Wilson, and Sebie Alyne Duffey.

She is survived by her daughter Sherron and husband Richard Garrison of Franklin; her son Keith Nickelson of Franklin; grandsons Rick and Amy Garrison of Dallas, Grant and Carla Garrison of Spring, Jamie and Tabitha Nickelson of Wheelock, Ryan and Laura Nickelson of College Station; granddaughter Eve and Jason Thompson of San Antonio; six great-grandchildren, Trey and Will Garrison, Bryce Nickelson, Kannon Thompson, and Ethan and Brianna Nickelson; sisters-in-law Jane Willis of Bremond and Pat Willis of Caldwell; and numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Marie Willis Nickelson loved her family, her friends, and her community.  She will be sorely missed.

Services will be held on Friday, September 21, 2018 at 2:00 PM with visitation at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Franklin.  Burial will follow at the Franklin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to one of the following or the charity of your choice:

First Baptist Church Franklin

P.O. Box 365

Franklin, Texas 77856

Franklin Cemetery Association

P.O. Box 215

Franklin, Texas 77856

Hospice Brazos Valley, Inc.

502 W. 26 ^th Street

Bryan, Texas 77803-9900