Joanne Nichols

Joanne (McPeek) Nichols, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed on to heaven February 24, 2013. Her battle with cancer ended with her sudden death on a snowy morning in Independence, Missouri. She was born January 30, 1958 in Cherry Point, North Carolina. As the daughter of Gerald & Florence McPeek, she was a military child and lived several places before the family settled in Barstow, CA. Joanne graduated from Kennedy High, and worked at TG&Y, local banks and in the Accounting Division at the Barstow Marine Base before she and her son, Adam, moved to Independence, MO in 1997.

In Independence she worked for the military finance division, DFAS, until an early retirement in 2009. She was a member of Eastside Baptist Church.

Joanne volunteered with the Boy Scouts while her son and grandson were growing, she loved doing crafts with them and helping with various activities. She and her husband, Jacob, became reacquainted from their earlier connections in Scouting. Jacob and Joanne married in April 2000 in Independence, MO where they spend the next 13 years. Their life together, though short, was full of love and respect for each other.

Joanne is survived by her husband Jacob Nichols, her son Adam Lepker and grandson Dakota Lepker, of Independence. One of her favorite memories was watching her grandson, Dakota, play soccer. She would get so excited watching him run down the field and would shout encouragement even if he missed a goal. She is also survived by her step-children and grand-children; Jared Nichols and family of Barstow, CA and Samantha Borley and family of Indianapolis, IN. She is also survived by her brother Robert McPeek of Barstow, CA, and sister Ginger Hancock of Newberry Springs, CA, as well as Velda Lepker, mother of Mike Lepker, father of Adam.

Joanne will be remembered by her extreme mental strengths and her wonderful sense of humor. She was loved by her life-long friends from Kindergarten, who she remained loyal to throughout the decades. She knew no enemies, only people she hadn’t befriended yet. She never had a bad word to say about anyone.

At her request, there will be no services. Her wishes were to be cremated and her ashes scattered in the High Desert of Barstow, CA. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to BSA Troop 1201 of Maywood Baptist Church, Independence, MO.