Bennie Lee Nichols, age 82, of Princeton, Texas passed away June 11, 2009. She was born May 15, 1927 in LaDonia, Texas to Alfred Lee and Effie Mae (Johnson) Gilbert. On November 13, 1943 she married Joe Kenneth Nichols in Rockwall, Texas. He preceded her in death on August 8, 2007. Bennie grew up in Rockwall where she attended schools. She and her family moved to Alaska in 1956 until 1972. After leaving Alaska they started a restaurant in Princeton. Bennie and Joe sold the restaurant and returned to Alaska. Bennie and Joe moved to Clarksville and purchased a restaurant which they co-owned with their son for 8 years. They sold the restaurant and moved to Natchitoches where they bought another restaurant with their son and operated it until their retirement. Bennie and Joe retired to Lake Fork in East Texas. She is survived by her children, Don Nichols and his wife, Jennifer of Natchitoches, Louisiana, Gwyn Warren and her husband, Chuck of Princeton, Texas; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Billie Sears and her husband, Billy Ray Sears of Alba, Texas and a host of other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Effie Gilbert; husband, Joe Nichols; sister, Virginia Dudley. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, 2009, in the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel with Tommy Joe Dudley officiating.