Elizabeth “Jane” Pugh was born in Enid, OK to Roscoe and Georgia Pugh. She attended school in Enid and graduated from Enid High School. Jane made many lifelong friends in Enid and remained in contact throughout her life. Jane attended Oklahoma State University and received a degree in Music in 1951. While at OSU she joined Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and Sigma Alpha Iota, the International Music Fraternity. Jane played several instruments but especially loved the piano and organ.Jane married Robert J. Nichols, also of Enid, on August 11, 1951. They had 62 wonderful years together. In the early 60’s they moved to Amarillo, TX where Jane taught music at an elementary school. In 1965 they moved to Lubbock, TX where Robert went to work for Nunn Electric. In Lubbock, Jane taught kindergarten at Oakwood Baptist Church. Jane was a member of the Lubbock Women’s Club and Lubbock Music Club. She was asked to play the piano or organ for many weddings, funerals, style shows, and the many churches she attended throughout her life. Jane and Robert enjoyed weekend nights wining and dining and dancing at the Lubbock Club with family and friends. The years in Lubbock were happy times for the Nichols family. Many family ski trips took them to New Mexico resorts and Robert and Jane hosted many Nunn Electric Builder Incentive trips to Europe. Jane loved her travels and didn’t miss a thing. She was a trivia and history enthusiast, thus her love of “Jeopardy’. In 1982 they moved to Midland, TX, and owned several dry cleaners. They joined Greentree Country Club where they played golf almost daily. Their grandchildren loved to fish and swim and spent summers visiting them and enjoying time playing games and exploring. A special trip to Disneyland was a highlight. This is also the time Jane decided she loved her given name Elizabeth and from then on she was known as Elizabeth or Liz.In 1990 they retired to their cabin in Ruidoso, NM where they joined Alto Country Club. While in Ruidoso, Elizabeth joined the Women’s Club where she enjoyed weekly bridge games and lunch with her many friends. It was during these years that their dream of traveling the country became a reality and they purchased an RV. After ten years of non-stop exploring and entertaining fellow travelers with her keyboard and making friends everywhere they went, they finally came back to their home in Ruidoso and enjoyed the good life, which to them meant sitting on the deck watching the deer and elk and beautiful views of the mountains. Robert passed away in 2013 and Elizabeth insisted on staying in Ruidoso until her family convinced her to move back to Lubbock in 2018. She acclimated beautifully to her new life at Raider Ranch. She was the “unofficial” welcome lady for all new residents and the staff loved her ability to encourage them to take part in the activities. Elizabeth loved her bridge group and the ladies she played games with. Her claim to fame was, “to have so many hobbies I could never be bored” and she never was. Books, trivia, playing cards, “making music” and entertaining others with her gift for gab served her well. Elizabeth had a wicked, off-beat sense of humor, and people were drawn to her. She often said her piano playing opened doors to many friendships. She praised her parents for starting her piano lessons at age 3 and she played 3-4 hours daily until she passed away surrounded by family on Jan. 3, 2022.She is survived by a son, Greg (Cheryl) Nichols, and a daughter Susan Parks. She had two grandchildren Matt (Jeni) and Scott (Colleen) and four great-grandchildren, Madeline, Harrison, Natalie, and Margaret Nichols. No service is planned at this time. Arrangements have been made with Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers in Lubbock. Her ashes will be placed alongside her husband in Enid Cemetery Columbarium in Enid Oklahoma
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