Mr. William "Bill" Nicholson

William B. Nicholson died September 19, 2018 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was born July 20, 1936 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Buford and Nell Nicholson. He spent his childhood years there and attended school, starting at Mrs. Blasingame's Kindergarten and graduating W.B. Ray High School. He attended Texas A&M University, the University of Houston, and Texas Tech University. While attending the University of Houston, he married the former Bettye Lou Davenport. They moved to Lubbock, Texas to continue their education at Texas Tech, where he received his degree in civil engineering. He participated in the ROTC program and served in the United States Army and Army reserves. After serving in the Army, he worked for the Texas Highway Department in Corpus Christi for several years, then started a small engineering firm. He then moved to Manila, Philippines to join a construction conglomerate contracted by the US Navy to design and build ports and bridges to install in Vietnam. After a few years, he returned to the states to New Orleans, Louisiana and became involved in the oil and gas industry. He went to work for Fluor Ocean Services for several years before working for Martech. He moved back to Corpus Christi in 1976 to help his father with the family business where he lived for 15 years. Though he moved to Corpus Christi, he continued to consult for Martech. He then moved to Sacramento, to manage Martech International's California branch for two and a half years. He left California and came to Lafayette, Louisiana in 1994 and started Ercon Corporation, which eventually evolved into Optimum Construction, the company he worked with until the time of his death. Bill was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish, and spend time at the ranch. He liked to travel and to work. He often combined his favorite pastimes, traveling with his work or to hunt or fish. He went on African Safari twice, as well as numerous other hunts around the States, Mexico, Argentina and Spain. His work and sports took him to six of the seven continents. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. After moving back to Corpus, he was able to reacquaint with old friends as well as make new lifelong friends. He and Bettye Lou traveled and shared many special occasions with this group of friends. His move to New Orleans blessed him with another group of wonderful people, with whom he celebrated years of Thanksgiving festivities, golf games, beach trips, and so much more. This group – fondly called "La Familia" – started with 5 couples and has grown to more than 50 strong over the last 40 years. His recent home in Lafayette availed him to wonderful, loving and giving neighbors, friends, and coworkers. It was with them that he enjoyed many LSU and Saints football games, good Cajun cooking, and bingo at the Petroleum Club. He was loved by and adored his eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, who affectionately called him "Grumpy". He was a member of The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, in Lafayette. He belonged to the ASCE, the Texas Tech alumni association, the NRA, and the SCI. Bill is survived by his wife Bettye, his son Trey and wife Theresa Nicholson, his daughter Lesle and husband David Veca, his sister Lynn and husband Griff Jones, his grandchildren Jennifer and husband Joe Klotz, Meghan and husband Jason Major, Jessica and husband Aaron Fitzgerald, William and wife Lindsey McQuaig, Jamie Nicholson, McKenna Veca, Jordan Nicholson and Mati Veca, his four great-grandchildren, Macie and Gage Fitzgerald and Mason and Ella Major, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his daughter Cynde Nicholson Bynog, his parents Buford and Nell Nicholson, and several favorite aunts and uncles, as well as his faithful companion Red Dog. Services will be held Saturday September 29, 2018, 4:00 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd; 700 South Upper Broadway, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to: The Episcopal Church of the Ascension ,1030 Johnson St., Lafayette, LA 70501 The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 700 S. Broadway, Corpus Christi Texas, 78401 American Transplant Foundation. support@americantransplantfoundation.org M.D. Anderson Cancer Treatment and Cancer Research Hospital. Gifts.mdanderson.org