Lillie M. Nichols, 89, passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. She was born on December 22, 1931, in Stamford, Texas to Frank Joseph Musil and his wife Ettie Slovacek.

In 1953, Lillie married Jewel William (Bill) Nichols, Jr. Together they had three children, Anthony Alan (Tony), Denise Ann and Janice Lynn.

Lillie was a joyous, cheerful, and outgoing lady. She always had a smile on her face and a kind thing to say. Her life as a child on a farm in a small west Texas town did not prevent her from blossoming into a worldly woman. She was a popular student in high school and later in collegeand remained close to her classmates for many years after graduation. She met and fell in love with her husband, Bill, while they were both attending The University of Texas in Austin. They were married in 1953 after they received their degrees. Bill had accepted a position with Chance Vought Aircraft in Dallas so he and Lillie settled in Arlington.

After raising their three children and being a homemaker for many years, Lillie decided to go to work. Her first job was as a sales clerk at a popular department store in Arlington called Titches. Even though that was fun and socially rewarding, it wasn't challenging enough.She honed her secretarial skills and was hired by the Internal Revenue Service.She won many awards for being an outstanding employee and was promoted accordingly.Her last position was as a problem resolution officer. She retired after 20 years as an IRS employee. Her time there was a personally rewarding achievement. She truly loved her job, her workmates, her bosses and her fellow carpoolers.

Lillie and Bill had a special relationship. They both had strong Christian beliefs and passed that on to their children. They did everything together. They loved to travel. This love took them all over the US and to Mexico, Canada, several islands and Europe. They made it a point to stay close to their respective siblings and extended families by always attending reunions, special events and just the occasional weekend visits.Bill and Lillie attended church regularly.Lillie had a beautiful voice and loved to sing.She was a long-time member of her church choirs and enjoyed singing traditional hymns. Lillie also loved to cook. Her holiday meals (especially the turkey and dressing) are legendary and impossible to replicate though many have tried. It was devastating to Lillie when her beloved husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. But she took on that new challenge with an open mind, open heart and open arms. Bill couldn't have had a better caregiver and partner during his struggles with cancer. After Bill passed, she missed him every day. Even so, she joyfully filled her days with family, volunteering, friends, neighbors, yard work, crafting and many other interests and hobbies. She continued to travel with her sisters, children and other family members and friends. Her favorite events were the yearly Musil/Slovacek family reunions where she was an active organizer and participant. She was especially proud of her Czech heritage. She loved to share stories of early memories with her brothers and sisters and their children.

Lillie is survived by her three children; Tony Nichols (Richardson, TX), Denise Kraft and her husband John (Scottsdale, AZ) and Janice Graves (Arlington, TX). And one brother, Leon Musil (Rogers, AR). She has 7 grandchildren; Matt, Chris, Jared, Ivy, Jesse, Gracie and Sophie.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, three sisters, three brothers and her son-in-law, Phillip Graves.

A family celebration of Lillie's life and her passing to be with Our Lord Jesus will be held at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery this fall.