Nikki Ion-Overall passed away peacefully on September 23, 2026, at the age of 91. She was born on July 18, 1935, in Santa Monica, California. A longtime resident of Los Osos, California, she lived there for 63 years.
Nikki’s greatest passion was her family, which brought her immense joy. She was especially grateful that her children and grandchildren remained close by, allowing her to share many special moments with them throughout her life.
Nikki had a creative spirit and loved painting, especially painting rocks, an art she learned from her dear friend Dorothy Dana. She shared her colorful creations with friends and family and generously donated more than 2,000 small painted rocks featuring cartoon characters, landscapes, and holiday scenes to the SLO Oncology & Hematology Health Center, where they brought a little cheer to patients undergoing chemotherapy. Nikki was a cancer survivor and had received treatment at the center herself.
She was often joined in her search for the perfect rocks to paint by her dear friends Connie Lilly, Gladys Porter, Cynthia Renner and Donna Skibba. Nikki also had a special love for dogs and found great happiness in their companionship.
Nikki and her husband, Gregg Ion, were longtime members of the Los Osos community. In 1963, they opened Bay Osos Hardware at the location where Carlock’s Bakery is now located. In 1968, they built and moved their business to 2101 9th Street, where they continued serving the community until the family sold the store in 1991.
Another of Nikki’s great joys was playing Bunco. Her Bunco group has been playing together for an incredible 50 years and continues to meet and play today, a testament to the lasting friendships and wonderful memories they shared.
Nikki was preceded in death by her first husband of 42 years, Gregg Ion, and her second husband of 17 years, Vern Overall.
She is survived by her children, son David (Deanna) Ion, daughter Laurie Ion, and son Ron (Clare) Ion; and her grandchildren, including Michael Ion and his wife, Saba Gerami, and Gina Ion.
Nikki will be lovingly remembered by her family and friends for her generous heart, creativity, sense of community, and the joy she brought to the lives of those around her.
