Marie Nichols Kelley

Funeral services for Marie Gertrude Nichols Kelley, 76, will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd. in Shreveport. A visitation will be held Friday, January 27, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. Officiating the service will be Shane Nugent.

Marie was born on December 7, 1946 to Wyett Nichols and Nelwyn Hill Nichols in Shreveport, Louisiana and passed away on Monday, January 23, 2023 in Shreveport.

Marie was a lifetime caregiver. She started in nursing at Schumpert as a candy striper. After completing her education, she moved into the role of RN at Willis-Knighton Hospital in Shreveport. She then navigated through a distinguished nursing career. She was the Director of Nursing at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport while serving as President of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing. Following her time in Shreveport, she served as Vice President of Nursing at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. She also held the position of Vice President of The Health Career Institute at Our Lady of the Lake College where she developed a curriculum for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Education. How ironic that for the last six years, she has battled this awful disease that ultimately took her from us. Marie had a passion for art and was quite talented at painting and drawing. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandson with all her heart.

Marie is preceded in death by her parents, Wyett Nichols and Nelwyn Hill Nichols; brother, Wyett “Big Bubba” Nichols; and son, Kristopher McFarland Kelley. Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Karin Kelley Oathout and husband, Patrick Oathout; grandchildren, Haley Oathout Harrell and husband, Austin Harrell, Sutton Oathout, Addison Oathout; and great-grandson, Travis Harrell; sister, Judy Nichols Bolen; former husband, Chester T. Kelley; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honoring Marie as pallbearers will be Patrick Oathout, Sutton Oathout, Austin Harrell, Charlie Nichols, David Bolen and Daebo Bolen.