Nancy Ruth Whitten (Nichols)

Nancy Ruth Whitten (Nichols), 85, passed away peacefully in her granddaughter’s home in Liberty, Missouri, on the morning of September 5, 2026. She was born September 22, 1940, in Mercedes, Texas, to Lorenzo Dow Nichols and Ivy Pearl Agnew.

Nancy grew up in Alice, Texas. After her marriage, she moved to Princeton, Indiana, where she lived until her divorce and moved back after her retirement. Throughout her years in the community, she held a variety of positions, including school bus aide, police dispatcher, secretary, and veterinary technician. Nancy was known for her big heart and her feisty presence. She was a lover of animals, books, fried chicken and chocolate.

Nancy was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and volunteered regularly teaching children and youth. Following her divorce, she returned to Denton, Texas to live near her siblings and worked at Texas Woman’s University until her retirement in 2013.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her former husband, James Whitten; her sons, Daniel Lee Whitten and James Rory Whitten; and her siblings, Nettie Jean Mulvaney, Betty Marie Holcomb, Leander Dale Nichols, Genevive Bolling, Mary Josephine Clem and John Allen Nichols.

Nancy is survived by her grandchildren, Dianna Jensen of Liberty, MO, Nathaniel McKinney of Rexburg, ID, Amanda Lee of Salem, IL, Samantha Anderson of Ft Branch, IN, Michelle Jones of Carmi, IL, Danielle Luff of Princeton, IN, Jazmin Whitten of Princeton, IN, Savannah Whitten of Patoka, IN and Dawn Meyer of Braselton, GA along with 20 great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends who will cherish her memory.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held from 11:00 am to noon on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 202 West 19th St., Kearney, Missouri. She will be laid to rest at 2 pm in Glenridge Cemetery in Liberty, Missouri. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Nancy’s life. Flowers can be sent directly to the church the morning of the 21st.

The family would like to thank her nurses at Aquinas Hospice, and her caregivers Kim and Emily for their dedicated service and loving care.