Alice Nichols

Alice was blessed to share 64 years of her life with her true love, and together she and her sweetheart experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer. Life will never be the same without Alice here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

Alice was born to Harold Whitcomb & Evelyn Reed on December 6, 1937 in Byron Michigan and she had 7 siblings. Harold Jr., Kenneth, Robert, Ada Mae, Paul, Delores, Alice and James Whitcomb.

The couple was married on September 22, 1955, in Vernon, Michigan, while Wayne was home on leave from the military. Together they welcomed two children, Laurinda who was born in France in 1957 and Doug who was born in Durand in 1960, into their hearts and home. Alice was married to Wayne for 64 years before his passing in 2019. They had many wonderful years together traveling all over the Europe and the United States most of it on their motorcycles (side by side).

After Wayne’s retirement they became “snowbirds” leaving Michigan winters behind. The next 25 years they lived in 3 different homes in Florida where they were close to their son Doug and his children. They moved back to Michigan in 2013 settling in Kalamazoo near their granddaughter Jessica and her family.

Wayne and Alice were always on the go and really loved traveling. They not only toured the United States on the motorcycles but also went back to Europe in 1985 with a motorcycle and visited multiple countries all over again.

There were so many things that made Alice one of a kind. She was a wife, mom, grandmother, great grandmother, artist, 4H leader, and collected everything. She was intuitive, generous, creative, loved to read and praised God. She loved listening to religious shows, religious music and lots of sermons. Shared articles with others, marked up books with “little notes” or “inspirations” and loved writing letters. Alice loved lasagna, Klondike bars, pecans, Wendy’s chili, and rhubarb pie.

All who knew Alice Nichols would agree that she was an extraordinary woman to know and “sometimes” hard to love. Although she accomplished so much, it was her family that was her greatest source of pride and joy. Alice was the sort of person who would help others, bargain shop and was an organized hoarder. She was a motorcyclist, artist, bargain hunter and LOVED GOD. Deeply loved, she will be forever missed.

Alice Elaine Nichols, of Kalamazoo formerly of Durand, age 84, died July 27, 2022, at her home. Alice’s family includes children: Laurinda (Roger) Starke and Douglas (Dre) Nichols; 3 grandchildren: Jessica (Christopher) LaPorte, Regus Nichols and Katreena Nichols and 5 great-grandchildren: Callie, Riley, Tenley, Cailyn and Mykenzie. Cremation will take place. A celebration of Alice’s life will be held at 1pm, Sunday, August 7, at the LaPorte’s home, 2001 North 9th street.