Nancy Jane Nicholas

Nancy Jane Nicholas of Poteau, Oklahoma, died Thursday, November 13, 2025, at her home. She was born on October 21, 1944, in Wyandotte, Michigan, to the late James Wesley Manney and Mary Jane (Smith) Manney. She was 81 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy Nicholas; and a son, David Paul Byrd, Jr.

Nancy was a retired insurance agent for Allstate Insurance Company in Little Rock was the very first woman insurance agent in Little Rock. She was a 1962 graduate of Mabelvale High School in Little Rock where she was a majorette in the Mabelvale Marching Band, and was a college graduate at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro with a Business Administration Degree. Nancy sang in the church choir and faithful member of First Baptist Church in Poteau.

She is survived by a son, Jim Byrd and his fiancee Lucinda White of Fort Smith; two brothers, Mike Manney and wife Stacey of Akin, South Carolina, and Pat Manney and wife Amber of Little Rock, Arkansas; and three grandchildren, Conner Hutto, Natalie Byrd and Londyn Byrd.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Cremation Services in Fort Smith, 914 N. 32nd St. Fort Smith, AR 72903. (479) 434-3901 or (479) 965-8202

To place an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.

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