Viva Dean “Viv” Stout

Sierra Vista, AZ – Viva Dean “Viv” Stout, 96, passed away on Aug. 25, 2013, in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Viva Dean “Viv” Nichols, born June 4, 1917, in Crosby, Clay Co., West Virginia, was the youngest of 12 children born to Jonathan Calvin Nichols and his wife Virginia Aretta Pritt. She was a life-long member and the oldest living member of the Laurel Fork Missionary Baptist Church in Adonijah, Clay Co., WV. She was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxilliary.
Viv was united in marriage with Garland Lee “Jim” Stout on July 27, 1946 in Gauley Bridge, Fayette Co., West Virginia. They resided in Charleston, Kanawha Co., West Virginia, for the first 10 years of their marriage where their two children, Neva Jane “Janie” Stout and Gary Lee Stout, were born.
After having served in WW II and being discharged, Garland re-entered the US Army, and Viva Dean became a military wife. The family’s last tour of service began when they arrived at Fort Huachuca on Dec. 31, 1962. After Garland retired, the family made their home in Sierra Vista where Viv worked various jobs in retail. Her greatest joy though was that of wife and mother. She loved everything about homemaking, and no one ever left her table hungry, be they family, friend or stranger. She was also an avid flower, fruit and vegetable gardener. She grew her peach trees from the pits of some peaches her son had given her. She loved to can the peaches from her trees each August, and she always gave the biggest and plumpest peaches to her friends, neighbors and her doctor. Our family always said Mother could probably make rocks and twigs grow because her thumb was so green.
She was also a prolific writer of poems and songs, and she enjoyed reading or singing them to family and friends. Several of her nieces, nephews and great-nieces would call from time to time to hear her relate tales of her childhood years, and the calls would usually end by Mom singing a song or reading them a new poem she had written. She was dearly loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.
After the death of her husband, Viv made her home for almost 19 years with her daughter, Neva Jane Bryant, and son-in-law, Billy Joe Bryant. The family moved to Daleville, Botetourt Co., Virginia, in 1995 where they resided until moving back to Sierra Vista, Arizona in Dec. 2010.
Viva Dean was preceded in death by her beloved son, Gary Lee Stout, in Jul. 1984, and her husband of 48 years, Garland Lee “Jim” Stout, in Aug. 1994. She was preceded in death by her parents and also her 11 siblings: Eva Eads, Tona Bird, Arnold Nichols, Okey Nichols, Westa Nichols, Neva Bird, Loy Nichols, Von Nichols, Ott Nichols, Enos Nichols, and Pert Livesay.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Neva Jane and Billy Joe Bryant of Sierra Vista; her grandcat Cozy; also nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces, great- and great-great nephews in West Virginia and all across the United States.
Service was held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013 at the Laurel Fork Missionary Baptist Church, Adonijah, Clay Co., West Virginia, with graveside service at Montgomery Memorial Park, London, Kanawha Co., West Virginia. Visitation was at the church 1 hour prior to the service. The church service and graveside service were conducted by Pastor Earl Elliott.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at ww.carlwilsonfuneralhome.com
Local arrangements are by Pennington Funeral Home, Gauley Bridge, West Virginia and arrangements in Arizona are by Hatfield Funeral Home, Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Pennington Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Stout family.