Shirley Anne Kellogg was born June 22, 1934 in Canton, Ohio. Shirl, or "Skid" as her mother called her, is the daughter of the late Ethel Wright Kellogg.
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Shirl met Dave Lord Nichols her second year of attending Bryant & Stratton Business School in Buffalo, NY. Dave had served in Korea, and was going to B&S (on the GI Bill). Dave danced with one of her friends, then Shirl found herself dancing with him. That began a 5-year courtship, a long-distance one that found her working as a legal secretary in Buffalo, and him working as accountant for Corry-Jamestown Furniture in Corry, PA, his home town. After their marriage on October 3, 1959, Shirl and Dave settled in Corry. Dave soon began working for the Savings and Loan Bank in Corry, beginning a successful career that ended with him as CEO. We lost Dave in 1998 to lung cancer.
Dave and Shirl had four sons. Roger Clark Nichols, born July 19, 1961; Robert born in 1963, who lived only 11 days, dying from a congenital heart problem (they found his pulmonary artery and aorta were reversed); Thomas Mead Nichols, born July 12, 1966; and Steven Hull Nichols, born October 23, 1970. Pictured above middle are the boys from left: Roger, Tom and Steve with their parents. In the middle is a picture of Tom in foreground, Roger on the right, and Steve standing behind. And all 3 boys are in the one on the right, taken when Shirley passed away, Tom on left, Steven in the middle, Roger on the right.
Roger Nichols, the oldest, was born in Corry, PA. After high school, he followed the Lord's call into ministry, enrolling at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. He majored in Bible and Biblical Languages (3 years of Classical Greek and 2 years of Biblical Hebrew), graduating in 1983 with Bachelor of Arts Degree. He entered Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore to continue preparing for ordained pastoral ministry. He met and married Tracy Luann Gilliam on June 23, 1984 at First United Methodist Church in her hometown of Joplin, Missouri. Roger was ordained a Deacon in Western PA Conference of United Methodist Church in June, 1985. While attending Seminary, he served as student pastor at the Dean Memorial UMC in Worthville, KY. He received Master of Divinity degree in 1987. He was appointed to the Bear Lake and Lottville UMC Charge near Corry. He completed his 2 years of probationary service in 1989 and was ordained an Elder. Roger, Tracy and family then moved to Joplin, where over the next few years, Roger ministered for: the Wesley Foundation at Missouri Southern State College; Newman Road UMC; Joplin First UMC; Central United Methodist Church of Webb City. In 1997, Roger completed the Doctor of Ministry degree at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. Roger still finds time to be active in his community, whether it's as volunteer firefighter & EMT (in Corry) or as member of various Boards and Alliances. Today, Roger enjoys his job as a car salesman, something my father (Elmer) loved more than anything. That's because he loved people so much. Today, Roger is the Internet Sales Manager at Fletcher Toyota in Joplin. He still preaches throughout the area 2-3 Sundays each month. He pastored Methodist churches in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Missouri. He served as chaplain with Joplin Police Dept. for 18 years, Freeman Hospital for 4 years. Early on he was also a volunteer fireman and EMT.
Tracy Luann Gilliam Nichols also sensed a leading into ministry early in life and attended Asbury College. She also discovered a love and interest in art, changing her major from Christian Education to Art Education, graduating in 1984 with Bachelor of Science, certified for K-12 years. Her major concentration was ceramics (pottery) with a minor in stained glass. She completed her Masters at Pittsburg St. Univ., Kansas, in 1995. Over the years Tracy has used her art to enhance the ministries of their churches. She taught art education at Joplin's Franklin Tech School for 15 years as well as College Heights Christian School. She has owned and operated her own art studio (Jubilee Art Studio), specializing in pottery, fused glass, and stained glass mosaics, with her work in 47 states and 7 foreign countries. She and Jackie offer a variety of art classes at the studio. After her retirement, they built their home and her art studio on part of her grandfather's 40 acre farm just north of Joplin.
On the left is a photo of their wedding in 1984. Below that is Shirley with her granddaughters, Jackie and Jodie, when they were very young. Below are the proud grandparents Roger & Tracy with their granddaughters.
Shirley Anne Kellogg
Tom Nichols, born July 12, 1966, was active in sports at Corry Area High School, ie football, track and baseball, while pursuing college prep courses, and taking Industrial Arts classes. Inspired by his HS workshop teacher and coach, Tom decided after graduation to attend California Univ. of PA to pursue Industrial Arts Education degree. While there, he was recruited to play football for the Vulcans, where he was a 4-year letterman and 2-year starter as an offensive guard. Tom met and fell in love with a "beautiful young lady" Cynthia Ann Hott, who was also attending CA U of PA. Tom also worked on his Master's Degree in Technical Education, graduating in summer of 1991. Tom worked as a Tech Teacher in Stafford, VA, but after he and Cindy married on June 27, 1992, they moved to Corry, where Tom taught Tech Ed at the High School, and Cindy began working in a Corry bank, where she began following in her father-in-law's steps in a banking career. In 1993, they returned to Stafford where Tom worked as a Tech Ed teacher at Brooke Point High School, where he opened the first modular technology education lab in the state of Virginia. Tom also coached Varsity Football and Track.
Tom is currently entering his 28th year in education with Stafford County Public Schools. He currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer for High Schools and Student Safety. He began his career as a Technology Education teacher, and moved into administration as an Assistant Principal. He received his undergraduate and Masters Degree in Technology Education from California University of Pennsylvania. He then earned his Administrative Endorsement from George Mason University and most recently completed his Doctorate in Educational Administration Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and their yellow lab Sam.
Cindy is currently working at Atlantic Union Bank as a Commercial Loan Assistant. For over 25 years, she remained with the same bank during the numerous mergers and name changes. Cindy received her undergraduate degree from California University of Pennsylvania where they met. Cindy is "the cornerstone of the family", according to Tom.
Melissa Ann Nichols was born July 21, 1996 in Fredericksburg, VA. She graduated from North Statfford High School in 2014. While at North, she participated in dance, track and field, and cross country. She attended Radford University graduating in 2018 with a degree in Exercise Science, with a concentration in Fitness, Strength and Conditioning. While at Radford University, she was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority where she held multiple leadership positions as well as serving on Radford University Panhellinic Counsel. She was also involved in CRU (Interdenominational Christian Youth Group for college students) and began a Panhellenic Bible Study Group. Melissa completed strneth and conditioning internships with Radford University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Clemson University. She is currently working as a Fitness Specialist and Tactical Training Instructor for the Marine Corps at Quantico Marine Corps Base. She is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Human Performance with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning through Liberty University. In her spare time she enjoys weightlifting and spending time outdoors.
Chad Thomas Nichols was born May 26, 2000. Grandma (Shirl) would sit back and laugh at the "all-boy Chad", who reminds her of Tom. He loves balls....balls....and more balls. When he's not playing with one, he walks around with a ball tucked under his arm, up on his shoulder...all day. He graduated from North Stafford High School in 2018. While in high school, Chad participated in football and lacrosse for four years. After graduation, he attended Bridgewater University where he played football for the Eagles. For the Spring semester to Virginia Commonwealth University he is pursuing his desired major of Criminal Justice and Homeland Security with a minor in Psychology. Chad enjoys weightlifting, cars, fishing, hunting and spending time with friends.
Steve Nichols graduated from Corry Area High School and attended Slippery Rock University to study music education. He transferred to Indiana University of PA (where his grandfather William Kellogg had played football), graduating in 1996 with BA in General Fine Arts, focusing on music, communications and theater. Here, he rediscovered his passion for theater (in high school, he was often on stage, showing his natural comedic abilities and great timing) and decided to pursue a career in technical theater. In Chatham, NY, he worked as Wardrobe Master for 3 summers at the Mac-Haydn Theater. An opportunity arose to go to southern Florida to work at Caldwell Theater Co. in Boca Raton.He worked with some big names in the field, discovering his skills from stitching to costume design. After working in the field, Steven decided to attend beauty school to learn skills in working with hair. After a few months, an opportunity was presented to work for VEE Entertainment on a national tour of Sesame Street Live as a wardrobe assistant, and he joined the International Alliance of Theatrical Employees (IATSE). He became Wardrobe Head on his second tour with Sesame Street Live, "Everybody Makes Music." He designed costumes for a couple of productions, done some consulting work, and trained others in the art of Wardrobe Management. He returned to Mac-Hadyn Theatre in the Costume Rental Division as the Business Manager, working on PR/Marketing, Collections, Volunteer Coordinator, Design Assistant and stitcher, and planned the Corporate Sponsorship Program. The photo on the left is from when he was relaxing with one of his fellow workers at the Theater.
Steve has been doing some job changing, mainly in hotel management, from Ohio to PA. But he loves to come home to his boys, shown in the picture on the right.
Sadly, we lost Steve recently and miss his great sense of humor and presence whenever our family gets together.
Sadly, we lost Shirley on February 8, 2014.
Jackie Luann Nichols was born April 22, 1985 in Lexington, KY. She married her high school sweetheart Lee George Peters on December 20, 2005. Jackie has persued her love of art and music, and still feels her devotion to ministry in a future job. Lee has a BA in Media Communications (Multi-media & Production). They have been blessed with a daughter Adelaide, who was born on September 22, 2009, Vivienne Isabelle, born August 12, 2011, Quincy Clark George born December 3, 2013, and Felicity Joy Noelle born October 13, 2017. Lee is a manager at WalMart Home Office in Bentonville, Arkansas. Jackie is a homemaker, homeschool teacher, artist with Tracy where she specializes in pottery (Porcelain and Raku), a vocal musician and a Thirty-One sales consultant.
You can reach them at lejapeters@gmail.com.
Jodie Ann Nichols was born September 10,1986, in Lexington. She shares many common interests with her sister, including her church and school activities. She has not only been featured in lead dramatic roles, but has written and directed church programs as well. Jodie's musical interests include flute & piccolo, and bass guitar. Her artistic flair has been obvious for some time....winning eleven ribbons in Art Fair competition. Her artistic range extends from pencil drawings to oil. She married Nate Craddock on December 13, 2008. And they welcomed a daughter on January 16, 2010, Lucille Ann, and they call her Lucy. And when that marriage ended, Jodie married Dustin Reed on 10/5/13, and they welcomed a son, Gabriel Jack on 1/19/16. Jodie is a Sr. Sales Director with Mary Kay, homeschool teacher, artist (painting, drawing, etc.). Dustin is an entrepreneur building and selling a variety of household products.
Jodie was recently featured in the Joplin Globe, "Empowering and enriching: Joplin woman rises through Mary Kay to achieve big goals." (October 27, 2019)
This page was last updated 5/3/2022.
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Copyright 2008-2025 by Marilyn K. (Wright) Dayton
maredayt@yahoo.com
Another note from their life journey. Tracy was home alone when the devastating Joplin Tornado struck on May 22, 2011. Having grown up in tornado alley, she quickly pulled a twin-sized mattress into the bathroom. This EFS disaster left 162 people dead, thousands were left homeless, hundreds of businesses destroyed. This was the third deadliest tornado in history. It took Roger nearly three hours to drive through only 8 miles to get back to Tracy. She was not injured. As the horrible screaming detestation tore through Joplin (their tonwhouse was ground zero of the path), Tracy had been under the mattress in the bathtub holding onto their Yorkie-poo Marcy and their Maltese Callie praying and singing the old hymn "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness."
Sadly, we lost Roger to a heart attack on 3/11/2022. He was a wonderful pastor, friend, father, grandfather and cousin. He will be sorely missed.
