Gladys E. Nichols, 88, of Daniels Road in Ransomville, NY died on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Mount St. Mary's Hospital & Health Center in Lewiston, following a short illness. She was born in the Town of Sheridan on October 24, 1937, the daughter of the late Lester and Dorothy (Dalrymple) Deering.
Gladys was a graduate of Forestville Central School, Class of 1955 and attended nursing school. She was a graduate of Floral School in Cleveland, OH and worked as a work order clerk at Niagara University, where she retired in 2010. Gladys was previously a Cafeteria Manager at Forestville Central School, worked for the former Valone's Florist in Forestville, at Artpark in Customer Service and worked for the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce. Gladys was a co-owner of the former L.C. Classics Family Restaurant & Catering, Inc. in Dunkirk.
She was former President of the Dunkirk Women's Bowling Association, a former member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Dunkirk and a member of the Fredonia American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Gladys was inducted into the Chautauqua County Bowling Hall of Fame. She loved horseback riding, golf, bowling, bird watching, doing crafts, going to casinos, and traveling to Disney multiple times.
Survivors include her husband of 28 years, Oscar Nichols of Ransomville, whom she married on December 6, 1997 in the Forestville United Methodist Church; a daughter, Wendy Miller of Fredonia; a son, Lonnie (Cheri) Crowell of Dunkirk; a stepdaughter, Kimberly (John) Kwiatkowski of Lake View; a stepson, Randall Nichols of Las Vegas, NV; a brother, Louis (Maxine) Deering of Fredonia; five grandchildren, Kelly Miller, Alex (Nechael Lewandowski) Crowell, Garrett (Alyssia) Crowell, John Ryan Kwiatkowski and Emily Kwiatkowski; a great-granddaughter, Katyia Crowell; and several nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by two brothers, Leonard and David Deering; and two sisters, Phyllis Deering and Mary Hall.
Friends are welcome to call on Thursday, April 9 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Riles & Woolley Funeral Home, 39 Main Street in Forestville, where funeral services will be held on Friday, April 10 at 11:00 AM. Private interment will be in Sheridan Center Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials may be made either to the South Wilson Volunteer Fire Company, Inc., 4194 Chestnut Road, Wilson, NY 14172; Cambria Volunteer Fire Company, Inc., 4631 Cambria-Wilson Road, Lockport, NY 14094; or the Forestville Fire Department, Inc., PO Box 299, Forestville, NY 14062.
To post condolences or memories, go to www.rilesandwoolleyfuneralhome.com.
