Kathleen Nicklas

Kathleen Freeland Mortimer Nicklas, 64, passed away on December 22 at her home in Shawnee, OK after a hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer.  She was born June 22, 1955 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Leona Morrison and Arthur Freeland.  When Kathleen was 7 years old, her mother passed away.  Along with her brother and sister, they were adopted in 1963 by Leo and Virginia Mortimer in Oklahoma City.  Kathleen met the love of her life, David Nicklas, at the Classen Comets homecoming her sophomore year.  He caught her eye right away.  Kathleen graduated from Classen High School in 1973 and went to St. Gregory’s College.  On August 20, 1976, David and Kathleen married at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City.  A year later, they moved to Shawnee to begin their family.  For almost 50 years, David and Kathleen have been building their legacy.  Kathleen enjoyed sewing baby quilts, gardening, cheering on the OU Sooners, and for a few years in adulthood - tap dancing.  She was an active member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, the P.E.O. Sisterhood and a board member of the Mabee-Gerrer Museum.  When not working for Dr. Jack Luman, she was dedicated to her family.

Kathleen is survived by her loving husband David, her sons Mark Nicklas, Eric and Erin Nicklas, and her daughter Kimberly and Anthony Schmidt.  She is blessed with four grandchildren, Randon and Rylan Nicklas, Emery Schmidt, and Elizabeth Nicklas.

Throughout her life she enjoyed relationships with her extended Freeland, Mortimer, and Nicklas family.  Many thanks to everyone that sent cards, flowers, meals, and prayers during her treatment, especially Jody Smith, Diane Canavan, Elaine Holliday, Jennifer Mcaboy, Sharon Gerards, Kay Lilley, Rhonda Smith, Susan Conkling, Ida Gilpin, Denise Thurman, and many others.  To be a friend of Kathleen’s, you were a friend for life.

Prayers service will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 26 at St. Benedict Church.  Funeral services will be held at St. Benedict Church on Friday, December 27th at 11:00am.  Burial will be 2:30 p.m. in Resurrection Cemetery, Okla. City.  Services are under the direction of Walker Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Mabee-Gerrer Museum.“The strongest women are those who love beyond all faults, cry behind closed doors, and fight battles no one knows about.” -unknown