About This Memory Space
This page was created for Joan C. Nichols's family and friends as a place to remember them, to share stories, and to keep their memory close in everyday life.
It is cared for and added to over time by the people who knew them, and everyone is invited to contribute, whether that is a story, a photo, a few words, or a simple note.
Many families visit places like this not just once, but again and again, especially on quiet days or meaningful anniversaries. This page is here for those moments, wherever you are.
A place to return to when you want to feel close again, to remember a moment, or to leave a few words for others to read. Over time, it grows through the voices of everyone who knew and loved them.
Light a Candle Growing
Light a candle to honor Joan C. Nichols's memory. Each lighting keeps their memory burning bright for 23 hours.
Candle lit burns 23 hours. Come back and light it again after 23 hours to keep the memory burning.
Limited to 5 lightings per hour to prevent abuse.
Memory Wall Growing
Stories, photos, and memories shared by people who knew Joan C. Nichols. This is the heart of this space—a collection that grows as more people contribute.
No memories posted yet. Be the first to share a story or memory.
Life & Legacy
Joan C. Nichols crafted a life rich in community service, family joys, and steadfast virtues, leaving an indelible mark on Indianapolis through her warmth, dedication, and unwavering spirit over nine vibrant decades.
Born in Indianapolis as the third daughter to Helen and Blanton Coxen, Joan grew up immersed in the city's rhythm, attending local IPS schools before shining at Shortridge High School's class of 1948. She pursued her passion for nurturing young minds at Butler University, earning a degree in Elementary Education in 1952 while cherishing her time in the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Her journey wove through two devoted marriages—first to architect Tom Laycock in 1958 at Northwood Christian Church, and later to Scott Nichols in 1986—each chapter expanding her world with love, adventure, and shared escapades from Lake Monroe retreats to sunny Longboat Key getaways.
Though her formal path centered on elementary education, Joan's true vocation shone in volunteerism. She poured energy into the Children's Museum Guild, co-chairing one of its inaugural Haunted Houses, and led St. Margaret's Guild as president, fostering cultural enrichment and community bonds in Indianapolis.
Photos of Life
Family & Loved Ones
Joan's expansive family tapestry blended seamlessly across her marriages, embracing sons Tom and Dan from her first union with Tom Laycock, alongside Scott's daughters Carolyn, Trish Poteet, Susie Pringle, and Joyce Bevington. This lively crew, spanning 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, gathered for cherished rituals like Lake Monroe summer escapes filled with boating and barbecues, yearly birthday bashes, and Christmas brunches brimming with gifts and laughter—traditions fueled by her gentle guidance and infectious enthusiasm that knit them ever closer.
Remembered by Friends & Family
Tributes from Joan's circle capture a woman whose quiet strength and joyful presence wove through everyday moments, evoking fond recollections of her nurturing ways and the profound comfort she offered to all.
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