Lucille Elaine Nichols Galey, 98, of Fort Madison, passed away on January 31, 2026, at River Hills Village in Keokuk.  She was born on April 22, 1927 in Bloomfield, Iowa, to Daniel and Edna Oliver Nichols.  In 1947, she married James Galey in Ottumwa.  He passed away on August 18, 1980.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant son, James Scott, a brother, Oliver, and a sister, Madeline.

She is survived by two daughters, Susan Galey, Springfield, MO, and Sharman (Ken) Steeples, Fort Madison, two granddaughters, Eva Steeples, Kansas City, and Emily (Krista Kronstein) Steeples, Cedar Rapids, and 8 great grandchildren.

Lucille was gifted in sewing, knitting, crocheting and crafting.  She played in the high school band, sang in the high school sextet, as well as church choirs and Sweet Adelines.  When her husband died, she discovered another talent.  She tried out for and won a part in the Old Fort Players first production, Come Blow Your Horn.  She would perform in many of their plays, her favorite role being Opal Kronkie in Everybody Loves Opal, and Opal's Million Dollar Duck.

She wrote many poems and stories, performing them at churches, club meetings, and school events.  Her favorite was an autobiography about her growing up on a little skinny farm.

Little Skinny Farm

By Lucille Galey

I came up the hard way on a little skinny farm.

We had no running water and the (ahem) was behind the barn.

You had to chop the wood for our old cook stove.

And there was nothin' automatic about the auto that we drove.

You stepped down on the starter and you pulled down on the spark.

You sat there a prayin' that the darn thing would start.

You prayed and you prayed till your poor heart sank.

The only thing left to do was get out and use the crank.

The wood box was full by the old round oak.

The parlor shut up tight and saved for special folk.

The tin cup on the pump was shining in the sun,

And it was never out of place and used by everyone.

We had a cow, a horse, a pig and some chicks,

And I used to roll corn silks just for kicks.

The day we did the thrashin' I knew I'd picked a winner,

'Cause mom always fixed something special for our dinner.

The telephone that we used, hung on the wall

And it rang and it rang when you wanted to make a call.

It was a source of information, there were 14 on our line,

And you could get the latest news darn near anytime.

I got my lessons by a Kerosene light,

The chimney was smoked and it wasn't too bright.

I thought we had arrived with our Aladdin wick

And I was always snug and warm in that old feather tick.

I warmed my feet by an iron wrapped tight.

Bathed in a wash tub on Saturday night.

Hurried to town to walk around the square

And I very seldom missed the Davis County Fair.

I wore sugar sack bloomers and pigtails down my back

I carried my lunch in a brown paper sack.

I had two pair of shoes and some hand me down clothes

And how I ever made it through the good Lord only knows!

Well I got my voice from a big bull frog

And just to keep in prac-TICE I called the hogs.

So when I reached the city I decided I'd turn pro,

But folks were always tellin' me just where I'd ought to go.

But I've never given up,

cause I hoped there'd come a day

When my shining star would glisten

And folks would look at me and say…

That girl has traveled far.

And here's the reason why…

There's a lot more to living

Than barely getting by!

No formal services are planned.  Private burial will be held in the spring at the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield, Iowa.  A memorial has been established for EveryStep Hospice, contributions may be sent to Barr Memorial Chapel.  Barr Memorial Chapel is  honored to serve the Galey family, and an online guestbook may be found at www.barrmorialchapel.com.   Applause, applause, Lucille.