AUBURN — Ethelyn Mills Nichols, 102 years, 6 months and 9 days, a longtime resident of Maple Lane, Livermore, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, surrounded by her family of friends at the Hospice House of Androscoggin, where she had been a patient since Sunday.

She was born May 14, 1908, in Jackman, the daughter of Chester and Una (Sawyer) Mills. When it was time for her to start school, she went to live with her grandparents, Marion and Mary Mills and she also stayed with her aunt and uncle, Mertie and Albert Lamb in Skowhegan.

She graduated with honors from Skowhegan High School in 1925 and Farmington Normal School in 1927. In Skowhegan, Ethelyn taught school and worked as a telephone operator for New England Telephone Co.

On April 25, 1929, she married her husband Thomas Leroy Nichols. In 1939, Thomas, Ethelyn and their son Thomas moved from Skowhegan to Livermore, where she made her home for the next 71 years. Together she and her husband ran their farm on Maple Lane along the Androscoggin River in Livermore and raised their son.

She continued to help her son run the farm after her husband passed away in 1968, until her son’s retirement in 2000. She was a member of the North Livermore Baptist Church and the Livermore Center Neighborhood Club.

On Dec. 4, 2006, Ethelyn was awarded the Boston Post Cane from the Town of Livermore for being the oldest person to reside in the town. Ethelyn was a devoted wife, mother, neighbor and friend and will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by three nieces, Bertha N. McClure of Greensboro, N.C., Lorraine N. Bace of Summit, N.J., and Anne Nichols of Westfield, N.J.; one nephew, Herbert Nichols of Westfield, N.J.; her cousin-in-law, Sylvia Sawyer of Auburn; her extended family and caretakers, Fern Gordon and her husband Wesley, Mark, Lisa and Mikala Holt, Jim and Jan Holt, and Carla Sue Keene all of Livermore; Sharon Tapley of Livermore Falls and Cindy Mandigo of Jay; also her devoted handyman who helped her tremendously with repairs and maintenance, Roger Lee of Livermore.

She was predeceased by her son, Thomas Lincoln Nichols in 2004; and her cousin, Hollis Sawyer this year.

The family would like to thank Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice for their loving care and support to Ethelyn.

Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.finleyfuneralhome.com.