Marjory Hart McNichols, who died Thursday at age 90, was an actress when she became the wife of Stephen L.R. McNichols, the first Colorado governor to serve a four-year term.
A rosary will be said at 4 p.m. Sunday at Horan & McConaty Memorial Chapel, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., followed by funeral services at 10 a.m. Monday at All Souls Catholic Church, 4950 S. Logan St.
Born March 23, 1916, she worked for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad and as a model and actress at Alexander Films in Colorado Springs before marrying McNichols in 1942.
Her husband’s political career dominated her adult life. Conservative Democrat Stephen McNichols became a state senator in 1948 and then was elected lieutenant governor before he was elected governor in 1956. He was sworn in just after the state constitution was changed to increase the governor’s term from two to four years. He died in 1997.
He was the brother of William H. “Bill” McNichols, who was mayor of Denver between 1968 and 1983.
Marjory McNichols worked on behalf of the disenfranchised.
She served as chair of the March of Dimes and volunteered with the auxiliaries at St. Joseph Hospital, Mercy Hospital and other Denver hospitals.
She frequently showed up unannounced at hospitals and nursing homes to inquire about which patients most needed visitors. Quite a few lonely patients were surprised when Colorado’s first lady stepped into their rooms.
She was a steadfast Catholic who received Communion daily when she was in town and a familiar face at Christ the King and All Souls Catholic churches. Even after the Vatican II council relaxed the church’s strict fashion edicts, McNichols dependably wore white gloves to Mass.
Survivors include daughters Marjory Wilson of Edwards and Mary McNichols of Denver; sons Stephen L.R. McNichols Jr. of Pleasanton, Calif., Robert McNichols of Pleasant Valley, Ariz., and William McNichols of Taos; brother Robert Hart of Tucson; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Staff writer Claire Martin can be reached at 303-820-1477 or cmartin@denverpost.com.
