Mother remembered for her service

It's fitting that Fae Richey Nichols died while helping someone else.

That's because the Salt Lake City resident, 82, spent her life serving others. She died June 18 from complications of a fall she suffered while helping someone move. The only thing that would upset her about her death is that she died on a Monday so she couldn't finish her weekly agenda of service, said Craig Nichols, Fae's son.

"We think our mother could have excelled at any profession," Craig Nichols said. "She would have made a great CEO because she was organized, prompt, on task and had a phenomenal memory, especially in remembering details about people."

Fae Nichols spent her days visiting widows, giving people rides to the store, doctor's office or beauticians and serving her community. A long-time member of the People's Freeway Community Council, Fae Nichols sought to protect her neighborhood from developments and big corporations.

The boundaries for the People's Freeway council extend from 2100 South to 500 South and the west side of State Street to I-15. Fae Nichols fought to protect the people and homes in her neighborhood.

"Our mother cared about this city and cared if big greedy companies were going to hurt people," Scott Nichols said. "Corporations would come into neighborhoods to try to take people's houses so they could grow. Mother saw that as taking someone's home and life, so she fought the development in the neighborhood."

Fae Nichols actively participated in the Mobile Watch program designed to fight crime in neighborhoods, submitting her last report only a week before she died.

Rita Adams, a Salt Lake Police Department secretary, worked closely with Fae Nichols and was surprised to learn of her death.

"She's just kind of steady and very supportive," she said. "She went out and did her patrol. She patrolled during the day for the last few years because of her age, but she was supportive of the program and everybody who worked in it. She was a very sweet person and active in her community."

All week after Fae Nichols' death, Craig said he could hear her voice in his head telling him to apologize to those whom she had appointments with.

"She would tell us 'You've got to remember the little people out there. Somebody has got to take care of them,"' he said.

Fae Nichols was also concerned about refugees. Scott and Craig Nichols said family parties always included people their mother was concerned might be lonely.

About a year ago, Fae Nichols had to have one of her kidneys removed, and she was so irritated when the doctor told her she needed to take two weeks off. It was only about three days later that she was back up again, driving people around.

Both Scott and Craig Nichols agreed that they were glad their mother died doing something she loved.

"She died quickly ... doing what she had to do," Scott Nichols said.

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E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com