Juanita "Nita" Pinson

Juanita "Nita" Mae Cooper-Nivison-Kent-Pinson, 92, died peacefully and comfortably from breast cancer on May 2, 2016 at her home in Fort Collins, Colorado . She is survived by Jim (Mary) Kent, Carlsbad, California; Peggy (Rod) Bowman, Fort Collins, Colorado and Chet (Kay) Kent, Carlsbad, California. She had 9 grandchildren: Cassidy Nivison Bell, Clinton Nivison, Matt Kent, Tim Kent, Karie Bowman Farland, Kelly Bowman Graber, Philip Bowman, Marie Kent and John Kent,. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren, 5 nieces and nephews, her best friend of 81 years, Edythe "Pam" Henderson, and her dog Benson.

Preceding Nita in death are her parents, Henry and Letha Cooper; her son, Richard "Dick" Nivison, her sister, Thelma Cooper Smith; husband, LeRoy Nivison; husband, Les Kent; husband, Wayne Pinson; 2 nephews 3 nieces, and her dog, Holly.

Nita was born June 7, 1923 to Henry Shaw Cooper and Letha Lee Laughlin in Wichita, Kansas. She was named for her mother's childhood imaginary friend, though she preferred to be called Nita. She graduated from Wichita East High School in 1941 where she was a member of the National Honor Society and attended the former Marymount College in Salina, Kansas. Most of her career was spent working as a secretary in Wichita, Kansas, Pueblo, Colorado, Grand Junction, Colorado, Salina, Kansas, McPherson, Kansas and Sun City West, Arizona. She was most proud of her job as the Personnel Officer at the former Kansas Technical Institute, now part of Kansas State University.

Nita married Clinton LeRoy Nivison on February 14, 1944, in Wichita, Kansas who was killed in action while serving in WWII. They had one son, Dick. On May 29, 1946, Nita married Lester Wallace Kent in Wichita, Kansas, who died December 17, 1970. They had a son, Jim, and twins, Peggy and Chet. Nita then married a childhood friend, Joseph Wayne Pinson, in Salina, Kansas on May 27, 1972. They remained happily married until Wayne's passing on January 4, 1992.

No matter where Nita lived she made friends easily and had many. She joined organizations, was a den mother for Dick's, Jim's and Chet's Boy Scout troops, sang in the church choir, and taught Sunday school. She was a member of the Eastern Star while living in Salina, Kansas. Church and her faith were very important to her throughout her life, and at the end of her life, she was comforted by the knowledge that she was going to be with her Heavenly Father. She looked forward to being reunited with those loved ones who preceded her in death.

Nita enjoyed sewing, taught herself knitting and needlework, and made many things for those around her, including school clothes for her nieces and hats for newborns at Poudre Valley Hospital. This hobby and talent continues through her daughter, Peggy, whom she taught to sew at a young age. She loved to sing and play the piano and later had an organ she played. During her teenage years and early 20's she and her friends would exchange sheet music to play and go to each other's houses to listen and sing. On Saturdays she was fond of playing classical music while she cleaned house.

Nita gave of herself by volunteering thousands of hours at hospitals in McPherson; Kansas where she was recognized as the President of the Hospital Auxiliary; Sun City West, Arizona; and Fort Collins, Colorado.

Although Nita lived through many tragedies and losses she was a strong woman who leaned on her love of the Lord for her strength. She maintained a positive attitude throughout her life and even throughout her death.

She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, Fort Collins, Colorado; P.E.O. Chapter GG, where she was a member for 27 years; and Aspen Club, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Christ United Methodist Church, 301 East Drake Road, Fort Collins, Colorado. The Reverend Nancy Boswell will officiate. Reception will follow at the church after the service. Goes Funeral Care, Fort Collins, Colorado is handling the cremation.

Burial will be in the columbarium at Bellevue Heights Church, Sun City, Arizona next to her husband, J. Wayne Pinson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to:

Christ United Methodist Church
301 East Drake Road
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525

P.E.O. Scholarship Fund
c/o Peggy Bowman
5224 Honeylocust Court
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525

Pathways Hospice of Northern Colorado
305 Carpenter Road
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525

Thank you to Pathways Hospice for their loving care during her short illness. They were a wonderful support. Thank you also to Nancy Boswell for her spiritual guidance and to the members of the P.E.O. for their support and their kindness of supplying food. Nita had many caring and supporting family and friends whom she loved and adored and was thankful to have them in her life.