NORMAN — Mary Hope (Powell) Nicar, 84, passed away Friday, March 8, 2013, surrounded by her daughters, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church, 312 W. Comanche St. in Norman.

Mary Hope was born in Enid to Dr. Wilfred and Lois (Lemon) Powell on Easter Sunday, April 8, 1928. She was the youngest of three daughters. Mary Hope graduated from Enid High School in 1946. She attended Phillips University, where she studied art, music and drama. While at Phillips, she met and married Reo (Nick) Nicar. They had three children. They were members of Hite Boulevard Christian Church.

In 1962, the family moved from Enid to Edmond so that Reo could attend OCU Law School. They were members of the First Christian Church in Edmond, where Mary and Reo were in the choir. Mary Hope’s family was her life. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her gentle, loving and caring personality wasn’t just for family. She always had a smile, a kind word and a helping hand for anyone. Everyone who knew her loved her.

In earlier years, she could always be found helping at her church. She was also a Blue Bird/Camp Fire Leader, a Cub Scout den mother, a homeroom mother and was active in PTA.

Mary Hope loved music and instilled a love of music in her children. She played the piano, sang beautifully and was particularly fond of musicals. She had a creative flare that was apparent in everything she did — from making clothes and costumes, creating Cub Scout plays and making parade floats to decorating cakes. She loved modern art and her house was full of bright colors, including the garage door she painted so bright, it made the house recognizable to everyone in town. Her favorite artist was Georgia O’Keefe.

She loved nature, animals and especially bird watching. When Reo retired, they traveled the country in their motor home.    

When Reo died in 1993, Mary moved to Norman to live with her daughter, Robin, where she was a member of the First Christian Church of Norman.

When her sister was moved into a memory care facility, she visited her almost daily. When Mary Hope developed Alzheimer’s as well in 2007, they shared a room and were inseparable until Evelyn’s death nine months ago.

The family would like to thank Reminisce Arbor House and Crossroad’s Hospice for the wonderful, loving care she received by their caregivers.

Mary Hope was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Margaret Ann Powell Aurenz and Evelyn Dean Powell; and her husband Reo.

She is survived by her three children, Robin Nicar, Bill Nicar (Delores) and Nicolette Nicar, all of Norman; her grandchildren Anngela Harper Kirby, Justin Harper (Allison), Dylan Walter, Jordan Payne (Taylor) and Cody Walter, all of Norman, Jessie Payne (Leslie) of Tulsa and Laura Halstied (Kenny) of Oklahoma City; and her great-grandchildren Darreck Kirby of Oklahoma City, Joscelyn Hope Harper and baby girl Harper (due in June) of Norman, Lillian Payne of Tulsa and Tre and Evan and Kaiden Halstied of Oklahoma City; a brother-in-law, Mel Aurenz of Lafayette, Ind.; a nephew, Scot (Pat) Aurenz; great-niece, Stephanie Aurenz of Nashua, N.H.; and a dear friend since elementary school, Barbara Waters of Norman.

Donations may be made on Mary’s behalf to: The Permanent Fund of University Place Christian Church, 2107 E. Broadway, Enid, OK 73701; or Alzheimer’s Association, 3555 NW 58th St., Suite 220, Oklahoma City, OK, 73112.

Arrangements are being made by Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home in Enid.

Norman Transcript, Wednesday, March 13, 2013

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