Sarah Nicholson's Obituary
NICHOLSON, SARAH ANNA BECHTAL daughter, sister, aunt and former devoted wife was born in Sunnyvale, California on June 4, 1963. She passed from this life to her eternal life on July 22, 2013 and has found peace. Sarah grew up in Richardson, Texas and graduated from Richardson High School in 1981. She attended Brookhaven College and UNT and took courses in business and nursing. She was a very compassionate person and loved animals, particularly bunnies, dogs, and horses. She had many canine companions in her life-two Westies–Bitey Bob and Nicky, two Yorkies, Micki and Lil’ Bill; a miniature poodle, Skoal Buddy; a Jack Russell mixed terrier, Asta and a Saint Bernard, R.J. Sarah was particularly proud about conquering her fear and learning to scuba dive so she could dive on a vacation to the island of Bonaire. She also wrote a novel called, Some Call it Paradise that she hoped to have published one day. She was married to Jim Nicholson for 21 years and worked with him to start and successfully operate the business–Precision Tile and Marble for twelve years in Naples, Florida. They also worked as a team to found and run Spoon Draw Ranch in Menard, Texas and raised South African Boer goats. Sarah not only helped build the ranch house in Menard-dubbed the “bunkhouse” but also worked alongside Jim to build the ranch house in Fredericksburg. Amazingly, Sarah could handle a 50 pound bag of feed and then dress to the nines with flawless hair and makeup. Eva Gabor in the TV show Green Acres comes to mind but she also liked to quote Scarlett O’Hara’s father, “Why, land’s the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for, because it’s the only thing that lasts.” After her divorce, Sarah worked in sales in Designer Jewelry at Neiman Marcus and later in Fredericksburg at the furniture and design store, The Rustic Star. Her artistic sense, taste in fashion and design was impeccable. She made every occasion special with her thoughtfulness. She gave more than she received most of her life. Sometimes she struggled with direction in her life but could size up a situation at times and say the most profound things. When our mother died in 2005-I told her that I did not visit her grave because ‘Mom” was not really at the cemetery-and she said, “Yes, but her name is there.” Sarah is survived by her father, Bartow Bechtel and three siblings, Sue Haas, her husband Russell and son, Ethan of Richardson; Tom Bechtel and his wife Laurie, children David and Lindsay of Plano and John Bechtel and his partner, Dean Wong of Los Angeles. Graveside services will be held at 9:30 AM, Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Restland Memorial Park.
What’s your fondest memory of Sarah?
What’s a lesson you learned from Sarah?
Share a story where Sarah's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Sarah you’ll never forget.
How did Sarah make you smile?