NICOLL, Lavenia Adams

NICOLL, ADAMS, CULVER

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 9/14/2014 at 19:28:15

The community was deeply sadden Wednesday by the news of the death of a much loved woman, Mrs. Lavenia Adams Nicoll, who passed away in the hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa following an operation several days previous. Mrs. Nicoll had been taken to the hospital on Friday, December 9th, an operation had been performed the following day. She rallied nicely from the operation and plans had been made to bring her home on Saturday before Christmas, however a nervous condition and heart weakness had developed and the attending physicians had thought it unwise for her to make the trip, although they did not consider her condition critical. Her sudden relapse and passing on Wednesday was a great surprise to her loved ones and to those in attendance.

Lavenia Adams Nicoll, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Lee Adams was born March 9, 1889 and died December 28, 1938, aged 49 years, 9 months, and 19 days. She was born in Wayne, Nebraska, and later her family moved to Emerson, where she graduated from the Emerson High School in 1906. She began her teaching career the fall of that year in Adams County in the rural schools, later in the Corning public schools where she taught for 16 years in the primary department and perhaps no teacher of the schools was ever more loved and respected by the children now held the confidence of the patrons more completely.

She resigned her position in the Corning Schools in 1933 and May 31st of that year was married to Reglan Nicoll.

Mrs. Nicoll was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from early childhood and retained her membership in the Corning Church until the time of her death. She was a loyal, faithful worker. She was also intensely public spirited during her teaching days and would always be counted on support any good movement.
She is survived by her husband, three sisters, and two brothers.

Funeral services were held at the Metohdist Church at Corning, December 30, 1938 with burial in the Emerson Cemetery.
Adams County Free Press, January 5, 1939, page 14.

One might as well set out to sweep up the ocean or count the stars as to attempt to estimate the influence of a personality in a community, especially a personality of the late Lavenia Adams Nicoll type, who had spent sixteen years teaching in the Corning Schools and many preliminary years in the rural schools. Who would attempt to estimate the influence of such a person in shaping a community, in building character, in moulding and directing lives. One becomes abjectly humble in contemplation and eternal gratitude flows from many homes because, "she was my teacher." One heard it over and over again from sorrow tuned voices as the news of her data was flashed to homes blessed by her influence.

Perhaps to many one of the sweet memories is connection with Mrs. Levenia Nicoll in the fact that on Friday before her death she was taken in a wheel chair to the children's ward and told those stricken children, a Christmas Story, which hundreds of Corning Children have heard her tell. A lovely sweet climactic memory!
Adams County Free Press, January 5, 1939, page 2