Allene Esther Nichols Pope

POPE, ALLENE ESTHER NICHOLS (1913~2004) Allene Esther Nichols Pope, wife of former Chief Justice Andrew Jackson "Jack" Pope, Jr., was born, along with her twin sister, Betty, December 10, 1913, in San Antonio, to James Allen and Marcia (Robinson) Nichols. The family moved to Austin while the girls were still infants. Allene attended Austin public schools and, after graduating from Austin High School, she earned a bachelor of arts degree from The University of Texas in 1935. Her first teaching position was at Fulmore Elementary School in South Austin, where she had begun school as a child. She later taught at Becker Elementary School.

While teaching, she met UT law student Jack Pope, whom she later married on June 11, 1938. They lived in Corpus Christi, where he practiced law and she taught at Menger Elementary School. There, Allene was an active member of the American Association of University Women, the American Cancer Society, and the PTA. She was also one of the organizers and a charter member of the Lawyers Auxiliary.

In 1950, after Jack was elected to the 4th Court of Civil Appeals, the couple moved with their two young sons to San Antonio, where she was active in the San Antonio Bar Auxiliary and served as its president in 1958. For many years, she taught Sunday school classes at the Jefferson Church of Christ. When Jack ran for the Supreme Court of Texas in 1964, Allene campaigned with him all over the state. Following his victory, they moved to Austin in 1965, her original home, where she continued to live the rest of her life.

Once in Austin, she became active in the State Official Ladies Club, serving as its president in 1975, and was a member of University Avenue Church of Christ. Allene was a lifetime member of the Austin Women's Club, the American Association of University Women, The University of Texas Ex-Students Association, the Women's Association of Abilene Christian University, and was a director to Girls' Town. In 2000, Abilene Christian University, her husbands alma matter, honored her for her service to the Brown Library.

Allene spent all of her years in harmony and at peace with every event in her life. She found joy in and loved her family, church and friends. Until she became disabled, she busied herself in visiting those who were homebound, ill and old. She felt blessed by her many friends who remembered her when she too became older and disabled. As she said on many occasions, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life."

Following a lengthy illness, Allene Esther Nichols Pope passed away on July 13, 2004, and was buried in the Texas State Cemetery four days later. She was survived by her husband, Jack, her two sons, Andrew Jackson Pope III and Walter Allen Pope, and three grandchildren.

Information provided by Mrs. Allene Nichols Pope and her obituary from the July 15, 2004 edition of the Austin American-Statesman.