Alma Jean Nichols (Gillispie)

Alma Jean Nichols, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and cherished children’s librarian, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2025, at the age of 72. Born on January 4, 1953, Jean lived a life defined by service, imagination, and an unwavering commitment to others.

Known to thousands of Clarksville children simply as “Miss Jean,” she spent more than three decades bringing stories to life at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library. A gifted storyteller with a bright, engaging voice and a warm smile, Jean fostered a love of reading in generations of families. Her story times became treasured community traditions, igniting the imaginations of young readers and opening doors to worlds far beyond the walls of the library. Over her career, she earned numerous awards recognizing her excellence and innovation in children’s librarianship.

Jean’s path to librarianship reflected her lifelong belief in education. She began college in the fall of 1970 at Marshall University—the same semester the university endured the tragic loss of its football team in an airplane crash. Later in life, she proudly completed her degree at Austin Peay State University, proving that learning is a journey without an expiration date.

In 1971, Jean married Robert “Rob” Gail Nichols after his return from service in Vietnam. Together, they embarked on a life moving from duty station to duty station—from Alaska to West Germany—raising their two children along the way. As a devoted military spouse, she not only cared for her own family but took on the quiet, powerful work of supporting countless other military wives and children. Jean helped pioneer wives’ support groups on post, creating networks of care long before such services were commonplace. Her dedication even earned her the opportunity to meet First Lady Barbara Bush during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, in recognition of her work to strengthen military families.

Jean’s creativity and generosity extended far beyond the library and the military community. In her younger years, she was active in community theater and brought her natural flair for storytelling to the stage. She also dedicated many years to the Girl Scouts, serving as troop leader and later Neighborhood Chairwoman, mentoring young girls with encouragement, kindness, and patience.

Jean is survived by her devoted husband of more than 55 years, Robert Gail Nichols; her daughter, Kimberly Ellen Nichols French, Ph.D. (James Brett); her son, Robert Jeremy Nichols, Ph.D. (Jenny Diane); her sister, Carla Sue Kamruddin (Zahir); her beloved granddaughter, Ainsley Ellen Nichols; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends whose lives were touched by her warmth and generosity.

Jean leaves behind a legacy of imagination, community, and love—carried forward in every child who discovered the joy of reading at her story times, every military family she supported, and every person fortunate enough to know her. Her story lives on in the countless lives she helped shape.

A celebration of life will be held after the New Year. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Jean’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate).

Please visit Alma's tribute wall and share a memory with the family.