Marjory Hart McNichols, who died Aug. 3 at age 90, was an actress when she became the wife of the late Stephen L. R. McNichols, the first Colorado governor to serve a four-year term.
A rosary will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Horan & McConaty Memorial Chapel, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., followed by funeral services at 10 a.m. Aug. 7 at All Souls Catholic Church, 4950 S. Logan St.
Born Marjory Hart on March 23, 1916, she worked for the Denver Rio Grande Railroad, and as a model and actress for 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 2 to 4 years.
Like her husband, who oversaw programs that modernized the state government and improved conditions at the Pueblo state mental institution and the Canon City prison, Marjory McNichols worked on behalf of the disenfranchised.
She served as the chair of the March of Dimes, and volunteered with the women’s auxiliaries at St. Joseph Hospital, Mercy Hospital and other Denver hospitals.
She frequented showed up unannounced at a hospitals and nursing homes to inquire 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.
Stephen McNichols was the brother of William H. “Bill” McNichols, who was mayor of Denver between 1968 and 1983.
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, N.M.; brother Robert Hart of Tucson, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Staff writer Claire Martin can be reached at 303-820-1477 or cmartin@denverpost.com
