Remembering Ruth Bowling Nichols, 1914-2015
By Deborah Burkett
The funeral service was both poignant and uplifting. Songs from the 1940s provided musical interludes as Dr. Faulk Landrum spoke. With such refrains as, "…and now the purple dusk of twilight time steals across the meadows of my heart…" You knew this was a special tribute for a truly unique individual.
I came to know Ruth Bowling Nichols via a homework assignment when Senator Robert Nichols agreed to meet in August 2009. I was working on a project for a Baylor University course given through their Oral History Institute. The topic: Working Women in Cherokee County 1930s to 1960s. I wanted to know about the women who worked the assembly line at the Nichols toy pistol plant. The Senator spoke not only of the family business but his ancestors as well. At its peak (1955-57) the cap pistol plant employed about 650 workers with half being women. Nichols noted his paternal grandfather first came to Jacksonville in 1915, attended Lon Morris and became a Methodist minister, the first in a long line of family members to attend the institution.
At the conclusion of the interview Nichols said, "You need to meet my mother…let me call her and you can go over right away…" Must admit I was a little nervous, just as I had been at the prospect of interviewing the Senator, but soon discovered both mother and son possessed the same innate ability. Each made me feel welcome immediately.
As Ruth and I talked over the course of several days I became entranced with stories of her college days at Texas Woman's University in the 1930s and her marriage to Talley Nichols.
Returning to her home for the last time with my big screen laptop, we sat side-by-side at her kitchen table to view the videos. After watching intently she looked my way, patted me on the knee and said with a laugh, "I told all I knew, didn't I...?"
I replied, "Yes you did, and it was wonderful!"
Once word spread that Ruth had passed away, everywhere I went individuals shared a "Ruth" story. Jacksonville Library Director Barbara Crossman recalled, "She was an avid reader, came regularly to the library to check out books and when she wasn't able to come herself, she sent someone…" Mrs. Crossman showed me the Tele-Sensory Reader Ruth donated which enlarges the printed word. This technology based product sits on a table in the library ready to be used by those with poor vision.
Mrs. Nichols also donated books to the library, several were about her family. I especially enjoyed reading, The Maiden Voyage of the TALLYHO, written in 1971 by Ruth. It recounts their trip from Rhode Island along the Atlantic coast through the Gulf, eventually arriving at Seabrook, Texas. Ruth was designated voyage historian and first mate; her husband Talley was captain.
Ruth loved boating on the intercostal waterways, the open sea not so much; "When you've seen one wave you've seen them all..." she noted in the 1971 book.
That Sunday afternoon as family and friends gathered to grieve, the woman whom Dr. Landrum described was the one I had met in 2009--an artist, a pragmatist with great humor and wit who was interested in the world around her.
Landrum told the crowd that in preparation for the service he had re-read Talley's book about his life and the history of the cap gun company. He was amazed at how often Talley wrote, "…and Ruth did…or Ruth suggested..." evidence that she provided valuable input for the business.
This week as I viewed the videos again and remembered my meetings with Ruth, there she is answering my questions, looking me in the eye and wanting to know what I intended to do with all these stories about working women. With a wry smile she asked, "Why talk to me? I wasn't a working woman, not really… I designed the first handles of Talley's guns and worked in the assembly line a little while…but never got a paycheck…" She added with a hearty laugh, "Oh, I got a taken out to lunch occasionally…"
Cherokee County has lost an impressive woman, someone with the soul of an artist and the practicality that comes from intelligence and hard work. Born October 8, 1914, Ruth lived through the lean times of the Great Depression as well as more prosperous decades in which she and Talley, along with their six children, reaped the fruits of their labors and enjoyed life to the fullest.
As a member of the Garden Club for 58 years and Emeritus National Flower Show Master Judge, it was only fitting that in 2009 an arboretum be named in her honor. Located in Jacksonville and part of the Texas A & M Forest Service, this space is enjoyed by many and its display gardens are used for conservation education.
Her legacy lives on in the areas she loved best: family, friends and flowers. Jacksonville is so much brighter and beautiful because Ruth Bowling Nichols lived.
Ruth Nichols during her college days at Texas Woman's University in 1932. She majored in art and graduated in 1936.
Ruth Nichols stands in front of one of her paintings during an interview with Deborah Burkett in August 2009.