Irene Annette Nixon, 88, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Irene was the eldest of four daughters of Clarence and Christine Hollingsworth. She spent her childhood in rural Fort Scott and Eureka, Kansas, where she helped care for the family's cows, pigs, and chickens—a responsibility she embraced with pride. Active in 4-H and a member of the school band, she played the baritone saxophone with enthusiasm.
Irene earned a B.S. in Home Economics and Nursing from Kansas State University and completed her registered nurse accreditation at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She later pursued a Master’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&I University in Kingsville (now Texas A&M University–Kingsville).
