Born January 24, 1931, Mary Ola Nichols in Elk City, Oklahoma. Her parents were Thomas Edward Nichols and Anna Belle Messer. She had an older brother Donald Nichols and a younger brother Doyle (Toby) Nichols. She married Harlan Willard Garretson November 4, 1951 in Seward, Alaska. They had four children, Dana Marie Garretson of Pocatello, Idaho, James Harlan Garretson, deceased,  David Nichols Garretson of Paso Robles, CA , Margaret Anne Garretson of Gilroy, CA and an older brother C.L. Dedmon. She passed away on September 9, 2023 peacefully at home accompanied by her daughter Margaret and Granddaughter Anna. She will be laid to rest at Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City, Oklahoma.