Carol J. Nickal, 89, of Sterling passed away Saturday, September 6, 2025, just a little over a month away from her 90th birthday. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 13, at Halouska Family Chaney-Reager Funeral Home with Pastor Kristie Firme officiating. The service will conclude at the chapel. The family would like to invite everyone to the Knights of Columbus Hall for lunch after the service.

Carol was born October 24, 1935, in Peetz, CO to Albert R. McKnight and Edith (Potter) McKnight. She spent her childhood and went to grade school in the West Plains area. The Stony Buttes School she attended is now located at the museum in Sterling, CO. Padroni was where she attended high school and where she met her husband, Harold. She and Harold were married, November 9, 1952. Carol and Harold had 3 children, Debra, Duane and Darrell.

They lived in Sterling, and several other states, while Harold was employed in the oil fields. They returned to Sterling and in 1965, they moved to Akron, where they made their home. After they moved to Akron, they joined local square-dancing clubs and made a lot of great friends. In 1979 they built their house on Fir Avenue in Akron. They opened a radiator shop they called C&H Radiator that Carol ran, where she did everything from radiator work to the bookkeeping. She was affectionately known to some of the customers as "the radiator lady". She was very proud of this. She retired from the radiator shop when Harold retired from KN Energy in 1991.

Carol is preceded in death by her husband, Harold, of almost 55 years on September 29, 2007, her daughter Debra, on May 10, 2021, her son, Duane, on September 18, 1995. Also, her parents, her sister, Ellen, and her brother, Ray, her daughter-in-law, Donna Nickal, on July 26, 2012, and son-in-law Jerry Hill on November 3, 2024.

Carol is survived by her son Darrell and wife (Becky) Nickal, grandchildren, Jeri Lynn, Mike, Bryan, Ann, Stephanie, Dale, Georgie, Kerry, Sara, and Kaleigh, several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

And…we can't forget to mention Carol's best, little friend, Taffy. Here is the story: Carol's good friends, Ken and Betty Kelly, took a trip and left their Corgi, Lulu, with Carol for a week in 2015. So, Carol thought she needed a puppy. Ken helped her find a puppy! A Corgi/Mini Australian (Auggie) puppy and she named her Taffy.

Taffy brought such joy to Carol. When Carol went into the nursing home 3 years ago, Taffy joined Darrell and Becky's household. Carol had a lot of dogs over the years, but never a 'Hearding' dog. She likes to 'herd' people and any other animal she thinks she should. Carol asked us one day why puppies eat drywall, baseboards, and chair legs! Luckily, for us and Taffy, she doesn't do that anymore.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that you donate to a favorite charity, the American Cancer Society or the Logan County Humane Society.