Frances Dutton Nichols, 95, of Hutchinson, died March 27, 2018, at Hester Care Center, Hutchinson, Kansas. She was born August 20, 1922, in Joplin, Missouri, to Earl and Velma (Hart) Handy.

Frances graduated from Hutchinson High School, where she was an honors student and played the violin. On September 24, 1939, she married Bill Dutton. Together, they created a beautiful family and raised four children. Frances had lots of lifelong friends, with whom she shared an abundance of fun, including bridge club, sewing circle, bowling, and volunteering for her church, First United Methodist. She would discover her true passion was golf. Just about everything moving forward in her life revolved around it, as she shared that joy with the people she loved.
Bill died April 28, 1986. Frances found happiness again when she married Jerry Nichols, also from Hutchinson, in Sun City, Arizona. Having both lost their spouses, they created a fulfilling life together that included golf, music and dancing. Jerry died January 17, 2010. She will be remembered as a strong and fun-loving woman who brought a lot to her family and friends.

Frances is survived by: son, Steve Dutton and wife Julia of Rockport, TX; daughters, Kay Cooper of North Platte, Nebraska, JoAnn Dutton of Thousand Oaks, California; stepson, Larry Nichols; stepdaughter, Linda Mullens and husband John; brother, Jack Handy and wife Sara; sister, Karen Reher and husband Christopher; 14 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by: her parents; daughter, Sue Rogers; daughter-in-law, Dara Nichols; and sons-in-law, Rex Rogers and Gary Cooper.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 19, 2018, at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson, with Pastor Jeanine I. Rishel officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until service time at Elliott Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Food Bank of Reno County, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.