Carolyn Alice Nicholas came into this world on September 9th, 1944 in St. Louis, Missouri and she passed away February 7th, 2026 in Wright City, Missouri surrounded by her loving family.  Carolyn was the fourth of four children born to her father, Walter Toothaker, Sr. and mother, Marguerite Toothaker. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Walter "Jr." Toothaker (Mary Alice), Robert "Buck" Toothaker (Marie), and Mary Ann "Tom" Toothaker Daniels (Leslie) and by her beloved husband of 43 years, Henry Ray Nicholas.

She is survived by her children Janet Neihoff (Ted), Lonnie Nicholas (Karla), Anita Marshall (Charles), Paul Wood (Carrie), and Jeremy Wood (Tracy); her grandchildren Justin Niehoff (Jen), Valerie Wilson (Evan), Shawn Nicholas (Catherine), Jason Nicholas (Audrey), Kayla Dowler (Marley), Nicole Brand (Doug), Tiffany Cole (Clint), Michael Gloyd, Joseph Lemmon, Sierra Bilbrey (Anthony), and Olivia Wood; and numerous great grandchildren.

She grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, attended Ferguson High School where she sang in the choirs and developed a lifelong love for music.  She was a gifted musician and was a spectacular soprano, and additionally played organ, piano, and accordion.  She married Jim Wood straight out of high school at the age of eighteen, and after moving to Texas, they adopted Paul and then Jeremy.  After moving back to Missouri, they settled in Hawk Point, and she became very active at First Baptist Church as a beloved Sunday School teacher and a music leader.  On December 4th, 1982, she married Henry Ray Nicholas and became stepmom to Janet, Lonnie, and Anita.  She and Ray made a wonderful life together and lived in Hawk Point, Montgomery City, Bellflower, and finally Warrenton where they moved to be closer to family.  Carolyn worked at numerous places throughout her life; Wal-Mart, Peoples Bank of Hawk Point and Troy, she drove a school bus for Lincoln County School District for over twenty years and for the Warrenton School District for several years after that.  She worked for the U.S. Post Office in Truxton and Hawk Point until she retired and took care of Ray in his final years of illness.

Carolyn avoided being the center of attention.  She always deflected praise—choosing to do work behind the scenes, and helping anyone that needed it, but carefully avoided being recognized for it.  She was unfailingly kind, generous, loyal, loved to laugh, was extremely proud of all of her five kids and their spouses, and adored her grandkids, great grandkids, nieces and nephews.  She refused to be a burden on anyone, so whether or not her life was going well, she would never complain or let on.  She was fiercely independent, practical, logical, was an extraordinary cook, a hard worker, and weathered hard times and adversity with dignity, strength and resilience.  Despite her efforts to not be noticed, she was universally admired, revered, and loved by her family and friends alike.  She was quite simply, extraordinary.

As her world started closing in around her, and the layers of her life experiences peeled away one after another due to dementia, it revealed the essence of who she was and what she valued—kindness, humor, strength and that same desire to never be a burden.  These attributes defined her life and finally, her death as well.  Our loss is great and heaven's gain is as well, and we take comfort in knowing that she is reuniting with friends and family.

Visitation scheduled from 4-6p.m. on Wednesday, February 11,2026 at the McCoy-Blossom Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1304 Boone St., Troy, MO 63379 (1636) 528-8244

A Funeral service scheduled at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at the McCoy-Blossom Funeral Homes & Crematory, Troy location. Mr. John Bradshaw to officiate.

Memorials may be made to: Cure Alzheimer's Fund (to support research), c/o McCoy-Blossom Funeral Homes & Crematory, Troy location. Family and friends are invited to sign our online guestbook at: www.mccoyblossomfh.com