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Submitted: 9/14/15 • Approved: 9/15/15 • Last Updated: 3/25/18 • R104736-G104736-S3
Merrill - August 23, 1922 - April 11, 2011
Mary - April 13, 1936 - August 30, 2007
Married: May 28, 1955
Services for Dr. Merrill S. "Sleepy" Nicklas, 88, of Monroe will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, April 14, 2011, at North Monroe Baptist Church Chapel with Rev. David Worthington and Rev. Warren Eckhardt officiating. Interment will be in Union Grove Cemetery in Lillie, LA under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe. Sleepy, as he was known to friends and family, was born in Lillie, LA on August 23, 1922 to Minor and Vanila Nicklas. He served in the Armed Forces in WWII from 1942 - 1946. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Louisiana Tech in 1949, Master of Science from the University of Arkansas in 1954, and his Doctor of Education from the University of Arkansas in 1960. He started his teaching career at Fair Park High School and continued on at Southeast Missouri State University. Sleepy came to Monroe in 1961 to teach at Northeast Louisiana State College, now ULM. While at ULM, he received numerous awards including 5 Outstanding Teaching and Research Awards, Who's Who in American College and Universities, and Professor Emeritus of Education. His career in the field of education lasted over forty years.Sleepy passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Monday, April 11, 2011. He was a member of North Monroe Baptist Church, where he had been a Sunday school teacher and leader for many years.He was preceded in death by his parents, Minor and Vanila Nicklas; and his beloved wife of fifty-two years, Mary Nicklas.Survivors include his children, Terry Eppinette and husband James, Kim Loflin and husband Wes, Cindy Mathieu and husband Brant, and Mike Nicklas and wife Mary; seven grandchildren, Nicki Sampognaro and husband Frank, John Reed Loflin, Erin Foster and husband Clint, Sara Eppinette, Kasie Eppinette, Brantley Mathieu, and Kristen Mathieu.Pallbearers will be Wes Loflin, James Eppinette, Brant Mathieu, John Reed Loflin, Brantley Mathieu, Clint Foster, and Trey Reeves. Honorary pallbearers will be John Tannehill, Levy Redden, H. T. Garner, Bob Lewter, Dick Odom, Jim Beckin, and members of Sleepy's Sunday School Class. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe. The family wishes to thank the staff of Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care of Monroe including Dr. Kerry Anders, Dr. Charles Mason, Suzi Thornhill, RN, Shan Grigsby, and Donna Ware. Special thanks to his caregivers Grace Coronado, and Glynda Thomas.
Contributed on 9/14/15 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 104736