Karla Gostnell
Nicole Rae Gostnell, 60, died at home in San Francisco, Calif., on October 9, 2022. Nicole was a beloved daughter, sister, auntie, friend and neighbor, and a devoted fur-mom to her kitties, Bobby and Jinxy. She had a quick wit and a soft heart, and brought joy and humor to all those whose lives she touched.
Nicole, or “Nicky”, was born in Richland, Washington, on September 29, 1962 and moved with her family to Eugene, Ore. in 1966. This was followed by another move to Allendale, Mich. in 1973, where the young family lived in a rainbow-colored farmhouse with chickens, goats, geese, dogs and cats. After her parents’ separation, Nicky moved with her mother to Marin County, Calif., where she later lived with her best friend’s family, the Jeppesens. She graduated from the School Within a School at Drake (now Archie Williams) High School in San Anselmo, Calif. in 1980 and earned an AA in Fine Arts from the College of Marin. In 1984, she continued her education with a printmaking scholarship at the San Francisco Art Institute. Despite her artistic talents, her quick mind and sense of organization led her into the legal field, where she worked for many years as a secretary, most recently at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.
Nicole’s deep love for animals and nature was a theme throughout her life. She adored her adopted city of San Francisco but was a country girl at heart. She relished camping in the woods and swimming in the lakes of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. She had fond memories of her travels to Europe, Morocco and Mexico. She was passionate about politics and left behind a large pile of handwritten get-out-the-vote postcards, stamped and addressed in preparation for the midterm elections. Her creativity extended to her love of cooking, and her enthusiasm for food encompassed the many cuisines of her beloved San Francisco. She spent her final weekend celebrating her 60th birthday: enjoying the city on foot, sharing her favorite neighborhoods and restaurants with an out-of-town houseguest. Nicole’s energy and enthusiasm for life will be deeply missed.
Nicole was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Edward Aubrey Smith and Orpha Irene McChesney, paternal grandparents Raymond Arthur Gostnell and Naomi Craft, and her mother figure Barbara Jeppesen.
She is survived by her mother Irene Goodnight of Gresham, Ore.; father and stepmother David and Gloria Gostnell of Portland, Ore.; sisters Karla (Jimmy) and Allyson (Bill), and brother Jonathan (Cara) —all of Portland, Ore.; father figure, David Jeppesen of Portland, Ore.; as well as her uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and niece.
The family will host a celebration of life at a future date to be determined; stories and remembrances will be much appreciated! In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Nicole’s memory with a donation to the San Francisco SPCA.
