Mary Beth Nichols

Mary Beth Nichols, 57, of Mary Esther, Fla. died Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.

She was born October 1, 1953 in Streator, Ill., the daughter of Leo and Helen Carey Dunn. She married Douglas Nichols on August 1, 1975 in Springfield, Ill.

Mrs. Nichols lived in Mary Esther for more than 24 years and had also lived at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, Anderson Air Force Base in Guam, Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, Bloomington, Ill., Newman, Ill., as well as Springfield, Ill. and Streator, Ill.

She was a devoted wife, loving mother, sister, teacher and friend. She was an unselfish, loving person who dedicated her life to others. Her memory will forever live on in the hearts of the people whose lives she touched. She was a teacher and worked for 18 years at various schools including High School in Guam, Fort Walton Beach High School, Laurel Hill chool, Choctaw High School and most recently Pryor Middle School.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include children, Christine Hawkins, Amy Petris and Nathan Nichols; brothers and sisters, Patricia Billings of Monticello, Margaret Dunn, Robert Dunn, Regina Dunn, Edward Dunn, and Michael Dunn; grandchildren, Austin Richardson, Zoie Nichols, Ashley Hawkins, Zachary Petris and Cayden Nichols.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m., with burial following at 1:15 p.m. at NAS Pensacola Barrancas National Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com.