Lila Nazarow Nikla, 89, of Mars Hill, was born on April 8, 1936 and passed away April 5, 2026. She was a native of Brooklyn, NY and the daughter of Samuel and Henrietta Cohen Nazarow. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Gerard James Nikla and a sister, Bobbie Stein.

Lila went to work at New York Bell when she was 16 years old and worked there until her retirement in Miami. After retirement she worked alongside her husband at their Papa Nicks Restaurants. She was an avid dog lover. Lila was a member of the Madison County Rotary, overseer of Women's League of Voters and for a period of time the Director of the Mars Hill Visitor Center. She volunteered at the Childcare in Mars Hill, where she read to the children and also volunteered for Meals on Wheels.

Lila is survived by her daughters, Deborah Turner, Darlene Fry (Rick), and Jeri Wilson; a sister, Toby Cantrell; grandchildren, Ricky Fry, Sean Turner, Angie Fry, Candace Scholl, and Kelli Yoder; and great grandchildren, Arik, Lila, and Alice Turner, Taylor Yoder, Gia Fry, Haylie Yoder, Nora and Jack Scholl.

A funeral service will be held 1:00pm Thursday, April 9, 2026 in the Robbie Capps Memorial chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral and Cremation Service. Reverend Dr. Tommy Justus will officiate. The burial will be held at 10:00am Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the WNC State Veterans Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 11:00am-1:00pm prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Madison County Animal Shelter, 389 Long Branch Road, Marshall, NC 28753.

The family would like to extend a special appreciation for her caregivers Susan Hinson, Nikki Blankenship, Tony Bradley, and Paula Hollifield, and the staff of Madison Health & Rehabilitation for their loving care.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org