Karla Jane Nicholson, age 71, of Turtletown, Tennessee, passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Ducktown, Tennessee.

Karla was born in Ducktown, Tennessee and lived in Turtletown until the age of 6 when the family moved to Ecorse, Michigan. Karla excelled in school and always made straight A's on her report cards. In 1967 the family moved to Carlton, Michigan and then to Madisonville, Tennessee where Karla graduated Salutatorian of her High School Class, played Coronet in the High School Band, and was the editor of the yearbook and school paper.

She was in many organizations and was saved and Baptized into the Baptist faith and attended First Baptist Church of Madisonville, Tennessee. An elderly neighbor lady, Mrs. Delsey Watson, always picked Karla and Rick and Joyce up each Sunday and they all walked to church.

Mrs. Watson suggested Carson Newman College for Karla to attend when graduation from High School came in 1972. Karla graduated from Carson Newman College in 1976 with highest honors and joined the Peace Corp where she was sent to live in Africa for two years as a teacher, teaching English to French speaking students. After her service in Africa, she toured the world for a summer and then enrolled in a Master's Program at Indiana University where she studied American Studies. That led to her lifelong occupation directing Museums in Indiana and Kentucky.

She retired to Turtletown in 2012 after her father Monk Nicholson's death to help her mother Betty run the family business, Nicholson's store. After a diagnosis of diabetes, she progressively grew sicker and sicker with the side effect of that disease. She succumbed to the side effects of diabetes at the age of 71.

We would like to thank the Diversicare staff of Ducktown and hospice for attending to her in her final hours.

Karla is preceded in death by her father, Reed "Monk" Nicholson; brother, Richard "Rick" Nicholson; and niece, Kristy Shields.

She is survived by her mother, Betty Nicholson; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce Nicholson Kidd and LTC (R) Gary P. Kidd; sister-in-law, Betty Ann Postell Nicholson; nephew, Jared Michael Kidd and wife, Kate; niece, Alicia Nicholson Dilbeck and husband, Daven along with their children, Halle Dilbeck and Grant Dilbeck; many cousins, extended relatives, and dear friends.

Funeral services to honor Karla's life were held on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins-Cobb Copperhill Chapel with Rev. Luke Hall and Rev. Stephen Smith officiating. Music was provided by Glen Hughes. Interment followed in the Zion Hill Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers: Pearly Mashburn, Chandler Burger, Daven Dilbeck, Grant Dilbeck, David Powell, and LTC (R) Gary P. Kidd. The family visited with friends at the Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations of Copperhill, TN on Sunday, February 22, 2026 prior to the service from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinscobb.com

Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations of Copperhill, TN was in charge of these arrangements.