Shirlene Mays-Nickerson's Obituary
Shirlene Mays-Nickerson passed away on December 19, 2025, at the age of 78. She was born on January 26, 1947, in Oakland, California, and spent more than fifty years making her home in San Lorenzo, California.
Shirlene was a devoted wife, mother, and stepmother, and a constant presence in the lives of family and friends. She graduated from Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo and remained closely tied to the community she called home for most of her life.
In 1982, she married her husband, Chad Nickerson, with whom she shared both her life and her entrepreneurial work. Together they built and operated several successful businesses, including an automotive body shop, an automobile transport company, and Shirlene’s Iron Horse, a cocktail lounge that was especially important to her. The Iron Horse was built, managed, and sustained through years of steady work and remained one of her most meaningful personal and professional accomplishments.
Shirlene enjoyed sharing a wide range of experiences with Chad. She took pleasure in motorcycle and helicopter rides, enjoyed music and movies, and was also a swing dancer who danced weekly for many years. Together with Chad, she built a custom 1935 Ford Pickup, a personal project that was widely photographed and received awards.
Alongside these interests, Shirlene was known for her sense of responsibility and integrity. She was careful and thorough in managing details, obligations, and believed in handling matters properly and completely. Her faith was important to her, and prayer was part of her daily life.
Family was always central to Shirlene’s life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dean and Gertrude Hankins, and by her daughter, Erica Mays. She is survived by her husband, Chad Nickerson, and her stepson, Jeff Nickerson.
Shirlene was a lifelong lover of animals. Over the years, she cared for a wide range of animals including a donkey, chickens, ducks, snakes, dogs, birds, and cats, as well as many wild animals that passed through her life.
Shirlene will be remembered for the life she built, the responsibilities she carried, and the people and animals she cared for throughout her life.
Services will be held at Chapel of the Chimes Hayward Funeral Home and Memorial Park,
32992 Mission Blvd, Hayward, CA 94544.
Visitation: Tuesday, January 6, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Mission Chapel
Service: Wednesday, January 7, 2026, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., Mission Chapel
Placement: Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 2:15 p.m., Garden of Light
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