Neva Nicholas

Neva Lynell Cook Nicholas was born to Harvey Cook and Pearl Estelle Cook Pugh on May 12, 1944, in
Florien, Louisiana. She attended Florien High School and graduated from Northwestern University in
Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a degree in elementary education. Shortly after moving to Shreveport,
Louisiana, she met her husband, Rodney Blaine Nicholas, at Highland Baptist Church. They enjoyed 56
years together in marriage and had four children: Kelli Nicholas Pylant, Ashley Renee Nicholas, Eric
Carlson Nicholas, and Marc Courtney Nicholas.

Neva lived in the Shreveport area for 58 years and served as an educator at four area elementary
schools. She retired in 2013 at age 69 from Creswell Elementary School as an art teacher. She was
known for her faith in Christ, her love of a good laugh, her work in a spring garden, her breakfasts on
family Saturdays, and her inclination to bring you some sweet tea and put a blanket on your lap. She
peacefully passed away with family around her on Saturday, January 13, 2024, in Heartis Assisted Living
in Waco, Texas, where she lived for just 17 months with her spouse, Rodney, after a diagnosis of
Alzheimer’s.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harvey Cook; mother, Pearl Cook Pugh; infant son, Eric Carlson
Nicholas; daughter, Ashley Renee Nicholas; and brother, Harvey “Gerald” Cook.

She is survived by her husband, Rodney Blaine Nicholas; daughter, Kelli Pylant and spouse, Todd; son,
Marc Nicholas and spouse, Tayla; and her seven grandchildren: Bailey McKenna Pylant; Cade Aubrey
Pylant and his spouse, Alyssa; Ainsley Grace Pylant; Annabelle Diane Nicholas; William Eric Carlson
Nicholas; and Lilley Elizabeth Nicholas. In addition, she is survived by a brother, Dan Huedy Cook; sister,
Lela Pearl McDonald Novak; and numerous loved nieces, nephews, and friends.

Services are to be held in her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, at Broadmoor Baptist Church. A viewing
is to be held with the family at 10:00 a.m. in the parlor on Friday, January 26th. A service will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. in the Memorial Chapel. Neva will be laid to rest in a family plot in Stamps, Arkansas, at the Lakeside Cemetery later that afternoon. Flowers may be sent to Broadmoor Baptist. Any honorarium can be sent to a local Alzheimer’s Association of your choice to advance work in Alzheimer’s.