Mary Ann Nichols, age 78 of Holy Cross, passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2023. at Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown.  She was born July 26, 1945, in Marion County.  She formerly worked as a secretary at Maker's Mark Distillery and formerly operated the old Sure Shot Minimart in Bardstown.  She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion Howard "Nick" Nichols who died August 30, 2022, one son, Marion Howard Nichols, Jr.; her parents, Paul and Elsie Miles Gardner; two sisters, Betty Luckett and infant Dorothy Louise Gardner; five brothers, Edward Gardner, Mike Gardner, Billy Gardner, and infants David and Ronald Gardner.

Survivors include four children, Rachel Pettit (Mark) of Bardstown, Lynn Cederquist (Travis Taylor) of Balltown and David and Daren Nichols, both of Loretto; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; four sisters, Theresa Detherage, Nancy Ballard (Kenny) all of Loretto, Carolyn May (Andy) and Suzanne Holt (Terry) all of Jacksonville, Florida; five brothers, Marvin Gardner (Betty) of Saint Mary's, Bob, Gerald, Randy and Ray Gardner (Judy) all of Loretto; 8 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am Saturday, December 30, 2023, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 59 New Haven Road, Loretto.  Rev. Richard Goodin will officiate.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.  The funeral and prayer service will be livestreamed onto the Mattingly Funeral Home Facebook page.

Visitation is 3-8 pm Friday at Mattingly Funeral Home, 195 Holy Cross Road, Loretto, with a prayer service at 6 pm by Rev. Deacon Joseph R. Dant.