NICHOLS, Floyd Henry "Nick" - b. August 5, 1936 - d. December 7, 2020

[patyrn]

Floyd Henry "Nick" Nichols was born August 5, 1936 in Blackwater, Missouri to Roy and Bessie (Bates) Nichols.  He passed away on December 7, 2020 at his home in Fall River, Kansas at the age of 84. 

Nick grew up in rural areas of Missouri, and although he only had a 9th grade education, he ws full of knowledge and trivia on many subjects.  He joined the United States Army on March 1, 1954, and in 1955 while in Detroit, Michigan waiting to ship out to Germany, he met Esther Marie Berryman on a blind date.  After four dates, they were married on December 5, 1955.  After his service in the Army was complete, Nick and Esther settled in Wichita, Kansas.  He worked at several jobs before working as a mechanic for many years.  He was the owner of the Bug Shop in Wichita.

Nick and Esther wanted to get away from the city, so they moved to the Lakeside area in 1979 and then to Fall River, Kansas in 2001.  They later moved to Eureka, Kansas for Esther to be closer to medical care.  After she went to live in the nursing home, Nick moved back to Fall River to his little apartment in 2016.

When they moved to Lakeside, Nick gave up being a mechanic and began hauling rock, which he continued for 30+ years.  He knew every back road in several counties and had a story about someone on each one of those roads.  He had many, many friends and acquaintances.

As most of his friends know, he painted rocks and signs of which most were given away.  He did this to stay busy and always had a story about what piece he was working on and who it would go to.  One of his favorite stories was about a little boy who called him an artist.  He ate that up and would remind us that he had soft hands now because they were the hands of an artist and he needed to protect them.

He also knew every little hole in the wall cafe and restaurant in a 50-miles radius.  When Carol asked him if he wanted to move to Texas to live with her, he said he couldn't because he had weekly lunches with Mark, mostly for pan-fried chicken, and he couldn't give those up.   In his younger years he liked to hunt and play the guitar, and he was an accomplished pool player.  He was quite stubborn and liked drinking beer.  Nick loved his children, grandchildren, and even more so, his great-grandchildren.  He had a rough exterior with a very soft heart.

When Esther became unable to care for herself, Nick was her caregiver.  By then, he had begun to soften.  Most mornings he would get up early and sit on the couch crying, remembering their youth, regrets of things he'd done, and the fact that he couldn't fix her.  He would pray and ask God for help.  On one of those mornings with Carol there helping out, he was talking about when he would die and go to Heaven so that he could see Mom healthy again.  That morning, May 18, 2013, after a long discussion, he was saved.  He prayed the prayer of salvation with Carol and handed all his sin, all his regrets, and all his sorrow to God. We are confident he has gone home to Jesus and that all who are saved will see him again.

Nick is survived by his children, Mark (Connie) Nichols of Eureka, Kansas, Carol (Wayne) Smith of Lone Star, Texas, and Michelle (Norris) Hollander of Wichita, Kansas; grandsons, Chris and wife Kristi of Paola, Kansas, Morgan and wife, Tomi of Mirabile, Missouri, and Jason and wife, Ashley of Eureka, Kansas; 4 great-grandchildren, Tyler, Gage, Riley, Zoe, and one to arrive in January 2021; and many great friends.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther; his parents, Roy and Bessie; and his sister, Marilyn Higgins-Keen and her daughter, Vicky Lynn Shipman.

Due to COVID-19 considerations, the family will hold a private graveside service at Weakley Cemetery in New Albany, Kansas.  Memorial are suggested to the Fall River Volunteer Fire Department and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funerl Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)