NelMarie Wilson Nicholson, 90, of Vero Beach, passed away on July 31, 2014 at Atlantic Helathcare in Vero Beach.
She is survived by her two sons, David Wilson and James Nicholson; two daughters-in-law, Margaret Wilson and Mellissa Rollins; four grandchildren, Shiva Wilson, Becca Wilson Sturgill, Mary Wilson Stanford and Stephen Wilson; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She is predeceased by one son, Robert Nicholson.
Nicholson was born in Shell Creek Lake, Okla., and grew up during The dust bowl/great depression era. During WWII, she worked nights at Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa, building Dauntless Dive bombers.
Although married twice, she divorced and raised three sons on her own. She put herself through San Francisco State College, completing a Masters in Social Work. She worked transitioning mentally ill patients out of state hospitals and into supervised care homes in the community in the 1960s.
Later she trained as a primal therapist and opened her own primal centers in San Francisco and Berkeley, Calif.
In 1976, Nicholson met her spiritual teacher, Ma Jaya, and moved to the Kashi Ashram in Sebastian. Ma’s teachings of compassionate service were a natural fit and Nicholson became a pillar of the community, receiving the name “Kali Ma.”
For 34 years she welcomed and nurtured spiritual seekers who came to Kashi, always available to listen and share Ma’s teachings. A master of the healing arts, she would comfort the sick and ease the dying. In 2011, Ma called Kali Ma “grandmother of the Ashram” which best describes her place in our hearts.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Kashi Ashram, 11155 Roseland Rd, Box 10, Sebastian, FL 32958.