Pattye Jean Nickell

Pattye Jean Duke was born April 5, 1933 in Stigler, Oklahoma to Reno Duke and Esther Cooper Duke. She would become the oldest of four children. While she was still very young, her family moved to California where they picked grapes for a living. As Pattye grew her family moved to the Los Angeles, Ca. area where she went to school and continued to grow. She loved playing sports, swimming, and going to the beach. It was during this time that she learned to love the Lord and was "born again" at an alter call.

At nineteen years old Pattye worked for the telephone company, and it was at this time that she met Bryce K. Nickell. They were married September 6, 1952 in Grants Pass, Oregon. Pattye and Bryce had a long and happy marriage. They became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1957, and were busy in service most of their lives. They had loving hearts and were always more than happy to help the relative or friend who needed help, letting them stay in their home, or helping with whatever the need might be.

Pattye loved learning in almost any field. She was always a student. In the last few years she has taken classes, learning to speak, read and write Hebrew and Choctaw. She was very proud of her Native American Heritage. Always the teacher, vacations with the family, (then eventually her grandchildren), were always comprised of learning history, geography, geology, sciences and fun. Pattye loved doing art, (painting and drawing mostly), as well as making jewelry, knitting and crocheting. A special Christmas gift the grandchildren especially enjoyed, was receiving crocheted slippers with money tucked inside them. Music was a special love of hers. She always had music playing on the stereo or singing in the car on road trips. Her children grew up watching the latest musicals such as the Sound of Music, Oklahoma, and South Pacific. She loved life!

Pattye Jean Duke Nickell returned to her Heavenly Father on December 11, 2017 in Torrance, California. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bryce Nickell, son Michael Scott Nickell, parents Reno and Esther Duke, brothers Mickey Dean Duke and Jack Allan Duke, and sister Betty Jean Duke Cardinal McCoy.

She leaves behind daughter Karen Hall (Micheal), Sandra McConnell (Robert deceased), and Steven Nickell (Marcie), grandchildren Rebecca, Heather, Steven, Erin, Gregory, Daniel, Karen, Robert, Dina, Justin, Jefferson, Michael and Jacob, twenty-six great grandchildren, as well as many nephews, nieces and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 22721 Main Street, Carson, California.

She resided in Wilmington, California at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cypress, California.

In lieu of flowers please donate to mom's favorite charity...Wounded Warriors https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/