Carol Mae (Carman) Nicolai

Carol Mae (Carman) Nicolai was born July 14, 1932 to Arthur and Sylva (Clark) Carman in Vici, OK.  She passed away Saturday, March 30, 2024 at the Homestead at Weatherford, OK at the age of 91.  Carol graduated from Camargo High School and attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, OK.  She and Otto Nicolai, Jr. were united in marriage February 1, 1953 at the Etna Wesleyan Church.  They lived in Oklahoma City and El Reno before moving back to Geary to the farm.  She helped Junior on the farm and raised their children.  She enjoyed playing games, sewing, making strawberry jam, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and bread, which she frequently shared with her neighbors. She was also famous for her deep-fried chicken. Later in life Carol took piano lessons and enjoyed playing the piano.  Carol was a member of Etna Wesleyan Church where she taught Sunday School for many years, and where several of the kids at the church called her “Grandma.”  She was a wonderful mom and grandmother.    

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Sylva Carman, husband, Otto Nicolai, Jr., daughter, Marcella Cowan, son-in-law, John Hedrick, grandchildren, Chad and Carman Hedrick, and siblings, Marion, Leo, Walter, and Charles Carman. 

She is survived by three children, Carolyn Cowan and husband Craig of Fay, Marilyn Watkins and husband Scott of Waldron, AR, and Fred Nicolai and wife Cindy of Geary; eight grandchildren, Jason Watkins and wife Lori of Nolensville, TN, Jerrod Cowan and wife Tara of Watonga, OK, Kristen Cowan of Bethany, Heather Northrip and husband Tommy of Weatherford, Paul Watkins and wife Abbey of College Grove, TN, Jessica Jarrett of Bartlesville, Ben Nicolai and wife Alyssa of Geary, and Katie Hatfield and husband Colton of Fay; 27 great grandchildren; siblings, Everett Carman of Woodward, OK, Jean Bochow of Stuttgart, Germany, Mary Hardesty of Kingston, OK, Tom Carman of Camargo, and Robert Carman of Weatherford, OK; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. 

In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations to Etna Wesleyan Church, 90690 N 2520 RD, Geary, OK  73040 or Russell Murray Hospice, 1625 Cypress Dr., Weatherford, OK 73096

Graveside Service: Etna Wesleyan Cemetery, Tuesday, 2:00 pm, April 2, 2024, Geary, OK 

Services entrusted to Turner Funeral Home, Geary, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to the family at turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, turnerfh.net, or you can find us on facebook.com (Turner Funeral Homes).

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