Maurine Olin

CLEVELAND — Maurine McCahan Nichols Olin passed away at her home on March 12, 2018. Maurine was born in Chicago to Maurice and Beatrice McCahan. As a student in Cookeville, she met Alex Nichols, whom she married in 1957 and with whom she had a son, David. Several years after Alex’s death in 1996, she reconnected with high school friend George Olin, and they were married in 2006. After a stint in medical administration, Maurine took a job teaching kindergarten at First Lutheran Church in Cleveland and immediately fell in love with education. After teaching in and directing the Wesley Methodist preschool, she returned to college at UT Chattanooga, completing her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential in 1975. Maurine taught in the Cleveland City School system for 25 years, handling classes from kindergarten to sixth grade. In 1992, she was named a State of Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Maurine was passionate for the performing arts, especially theater and storytelling. In Cleveland, she was active with the Ocoee Players as actor, director, stagehand, and later president. She also did regional work with the Chattanooga Little Theater, Dalton Little Theater and the Chattanooga Backstage Dinner Theater. She participated in many local storytelling events, went to national conventions, and was president of the Cleveland Storytellers’ Guild. Maurine was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga and was active there in numerous capacities. She is survived by her husband, George Olin; son, David Nichols, daughter-in-law, Sherri; granddaughter, Susan; sister-in-law, Ruth Tulloss; stepdaughter, Ellen Perdue; stepgranddaughter, Danielle Perdue; niece, Karen Tulloss and nephew, Michael Tulloss. A Celebration of Life will be held at Broad Street United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 17, at 4 p.m. with reception to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association. You are invited to share a personal memory of Maurine or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral and Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Olin family with these arrangements.