Rita Nickles

HURST -- Rita Patricia Nickles, 74, passed away Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009.        Memorial service: 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, in Lucas Funeral Home Chapel, 1321 Precint Line Road, Hurst, the Rev. Jim Rigsby officiating. Interment: 3 p.m. in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.        Memorials: In lieu of flowers, Rita's memory may be honored with a gift to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a charity dear to her heart. www.stjude.org.        Rita was born June 20, 1935, in the Republic of Mauritius. She spent her childhood in Rhodesia and later moved to England. Working for American Airlines brought her to the U.S., first Boston, Mass., then Fort Worth, where she married Ray Nickles. In 1990, she opened A&N Travel Service. After her husband's retirement from American Airlines, he joined her in the office where they worked together. This gave her much pride to have him by her side. Over the years many customers became dear friends and she cherished those relationships.        Rita had a passion for life....