The joy who is Laura Lee Nickle was born May 19, 1979, and departed us June 29, 2026 after complications from an illness. Laura was born in Springdale, AR to Ronald Wayne and Becky Lee Cooper, later joined by her brothers Andrew and Matthew. Her grandparents sang “You Are My Sunshine” to her, which turned out to be a prescient choice.  

Laura was raised in Springfield, MO, and began dating John Nickle after meeting through speech and debate in high school. He quickly won her whole family’s heart. They went their separate ways for college, but later found each other again and married on March 29, 2008. They were a genuine love match, with sly wit and repartee marking their marriage. 

With the arrival of Ollie Lee and Isaiah Cooper Nickle, their family was complete. Laura saw those around her. She saw their potential and their goodness, and she looked for how she could help others find happiness. Her nurturing nature led her into teaching, first at Otterville and then Fair Grove High School. Laura believed Jesus welcomed all of us, and her faith led her to volunteer her time in support of Congolese refugees. 

Her heart was our family's glue, and not only for John, Ollie and Zay. She tenderly tended to her Nana, supported her mother through tragedies, and was her brother's trusted confidant. Laura Lee leaves a heart-shaped hole in the lives of her husband, John, children Ollie and Isaiah, mother Becky, grandmother Florene Williamson, brother Matthew and his wife Kali, sister-in-law Cassie and husband Michael Howerton, nephews Griffin, Calvin, Wyatt, and niece Stella, cousins Beth, Wayne, and Katie Grinder, Julie Davenport Hagar and Amy Davenport Falk and their families, and dear friend of the family Larry Halverson. She was preceded in death by her father Ronald, and brother Andy, and Papa Lester Lee Williamson.

A service will be held at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home on Friday, July 3 at 2:00 p.m., followed by interment amongst family at Mt. Comfort Cemetery. Please wear bright, happy colors.

To those of you kind enough to ask, donations may be made to Glo:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-glo--2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawSzaiRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETEyTTY2R1BqQW9LdGM0Y2Yzc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHodcxHPe58cUldwXUPzGzrNST-9Q9t6kzwCEKYzfYUAS9SD3Cq_-36DSuexB_aem_0olGJ7Dwn3RSy-Q5_0c8uQ