MARGARET MARIE SHERBURNE NIX

“LOVING WIFE, MOTHER, GRAND & GREAT GRANDMOTHER, AUNT & FRIEND”

PORTVILLE – Margaret Marie Sherburne Nix passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 23, 2024, at ECMC in Buffalo, NY.

Margaret graced us with her beauty, inside and out, for 88 years. Born March 18, 1936, in Olean, NY, she was the daughter of George & Jennie (Larson) Sherburne. She was an only child.

We all have a story to tell, a book about ourselves…….a beginning……a dash…….and the end. Today, it’s with a heavy heart that the woman we were honored to call, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend ended her last chapter.

She attended Olean High School graduating in 1953. Following graduation, she was employed by the New York Telephone Company as an operator. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love, with the love of her life. 

On November 26, 1955, at the Ischua (NY) Union Church she married Clifford P. Nix who survives and along with her came the horse. They celebrated their 68th anniversary last year.

They resided in Ischua, NY for a short time then moved to their home on Deer Creek Road in Portville, NY in 1962. They still reside there and raised their 4 children: Debra (Nix) Kolkowski, Jeff Nix, Scott Nix, and Gary (Tina) Nix.

Margaret moved on to work for B.O.C.E.S for 23 years. She was a teacher’s aide working with special education students. She worked at various schools in Olean and Portville retiring in 1996. She loved those she worked with and the children she helped.

Active in her church, she was on numerous committees including the stain glass window project. She also served on the church council for Bethel Lutheran Church. She had a strong faith in God. She also earned the unofficial title of “dishwasher” and the person who was tall enough to reach up and put the dishes away on the top shelf. She was always willing to clean up. She loved her church, the church family, and the generations that followed.

When her children were young, she participated in 4-H and was actively involved with her son’s sports. She loved animals, especially horses, and that passion was passed on to her daughter and granddaughter. Much to Cliff’s dismay, animals seemed to appear at the house and lived a good life.

She always cared for those in need. Her fond passion for horses, led her to many horses shows her granddaughter Lindsey (Kolkowski) Nicholas participated in. She kept busy cleaning stalls, grooming and being the cheerleader for all her grandchildren. She was very proud of all her grandchildren, and it gave her great pleasure attending the sports and activities they were involved in. Margaret loved to read, feed her birds, country rides, camping and traveling the country.

Helping others was her greatest trait. She and Cliff spent 20 years during the winter in Florida, with many close friends across the country. She constantly kept busy doing anything for her family. She likes her lawn tidy; therefore, you would see her “weed whacking” because no one can do it her way! Even at her advanced age she spun circles around many with her energy and enthusiasm. She instilled a work ethic and value system that has been passed on from her children to the great-grandchildren. Cliff couldn’t have been blessed with a better woman and the children could not have had a better mother. 

Surviving besides her husband and children are her wonderful and much-loved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, along with many nephews and a niece. 

She was predeceased by her parents George and Jennie Sherburne and in-laws Leslie and Elvira Nix.

“A meaningful life is not being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect. It is about being real, being humble, being able to share ourselves, and touch the lives of others. It is only then, that we could have a full, happy, and contented life” – Author Unknown

Margaret accomplished all she set out to do and lived a good and happy life. God bless her.

Visitation and services will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church, 79 Brooklyn Street, Portville, NY on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Visitation commences at 10:30 am with a funeral service at 12:00 pm. Private burial will be held at Maplehurst Cemetery, Hinsdale, NY at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 E. State St., Olean. Online condolences may be made at www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com

Memorials may be made to the Bethel Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 606, Portville, NY 14770, the Portville Fire Department, or the Allegany County SPCA.