Heather Dawn Nichols
Born: January 1st, 1975
Died: June 13th, 1999
Obituary
Staff Sgt. Heather Dawn Nichols, 24, of O'Fallon, Ill., formerly of West Burlington, died Sunday June 13, 1999, at Myrtle Beach S.C. Born Jan. 1, 1975, in Burlington, she was the daughter of Randall A. and Mary A. Yates Carlson. She married Staff Sgt. (Select) Lonnie Nichols Feb. 28, 1994, at her parents' home in West Burlington. She was a 1993 graduate of West Burlington Arnold High School, and a member of the Harmony Bible Church in Danville. Serving in the U.S. Air Force, she was assigned to Yokota Air Base in Japan from March 1994 until March 1997. In that assignment, she worked in the outpatient records department, then served as the OBGYN administration clerk, and in the Medical Service Accounts section. From April 1997 until the time of her death she served at Scott Air Force Base in O'Fallon, Ill., as shift leader, Overseas Mission Controller at the U.S. Transportation Command/Global Patient Movement Requirements Center. Her duties included the coordination and transport of patients surviving the crash of Korean Airlines Flight 801 and movement of hurricane victims from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and the worldwide over- sight of patient movement for the Department of Defense. She was active with organizations at Scott AFB including the U.S. Transportation Command Children's Christmas party, USTRANSCOM 10th anniversary Fun Run and the GPMRC fundraiser events. Staff Sgt. Nichols is the recipient of the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with one oak leaf cluster), the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the National Service Defense Medal, the Air Force Overseas-Long Tour ribbon, the Air Force Longevity Service, and the Air Force Training ribbon. Survivors include her husband; one son, Ian Alexander Nichols of O'Fallon, Ill.; her parents of West Burlington; one brother, Senior Airman Jeremy M. Carlson of Hurlburt Field, Fla.; her grandparents, Delbert and Laura Carlson of Burlington; and aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents. Friends may call after noon today, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lunning Chapel. The funeral for Staff Sgt. Nichols will be 1 p.m. Friday at the Harmony Bible Church in Danville, with the Revs. Ed Davis and Dean Graber officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard. A memorial has been established for the Ian A. Nichols Trust Fund.