Kathleen Nicolls

Kathleen Curtis Stratton Nicolls, Kitty, 94, of Paso Robles, CA, passed away September 13, 2014. Kitty was born on a homestead in Solomonville, AZ on March 20, 1920 to Ezra and Catherine Blazzard Curtis. They moved to Thatcher when she was very young. She always spoke lovingly and warmly of growing up in her home. Kitty graduated from Gila College (Eastern Arizona College) in 1940. She had many friends and plenty of boyfriends due to her vivaciousness. She met Eugene Archer Stratton at a summer dance and they were married in December 1940. They built their own home in Safford and in November 1941 their daughter, Kathleen was born followed by their son, Eugene Archer, in January of 1943. Archer had always loved California so they all moved there when he took a job with the Federal Reserve Bank in Los Angeles. They built a home in Pacific Palisades, CA, which was completed in time for their third child, Lauren Gayle, to come home to in September of 1946. Kitty loved making a warm and welcoming home for friends and family. She loved gardening, playing her baby grand piano by ear and singing. Music was a great part of her life. Laughter was essential. She worked by and with her husband to build, remodel and sell homes while he managed a medical clinic, became a general contractor and finally did contracting full time. She helped raise her granddaughter, Shirley Glaettli, and then welcomed Shirleys friends into her home as well. She is survived by her two daughters, Kathleen Haas and Gayle Glaettli, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Archer, son, Eugene Archer Stratton, her second husband, Alexander Babbitt Nicolls, sister, Val Mulleneaux and brother, H. Gay Curtis. A viewing for Kitty will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at Caldwell Funeral Chapel with the graveside service to follow in the Safford Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.