Jimmy E Nickell

Jimmy Ewell Nickell passed away in the early morning of November 16, 2019 at
Liberty Hospital. Jimmy was 86 years old. He was born in Dallas, Texas, on
December 12, 1932. When he was 2 1/2, his family moved to Claude, Texas to the
Nickell family farm to become dairy farmers.
He attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where he earned a degree
in Animal Husbandry in May 1956. After graduation, he joined the US Air Force to
pursue his childhood dream of flying. He achieved that goal as a pilot flying
bombers, aerial tankers and helicopters. He was stationed at Dyers AFB in Abilene,
Texas, when he met the love of his life, Kaye Kelly, on a blind date. They were
married on December 28, 1957 and had three daughters. They celebrated nearly
62 years of marriage. He always said that the secret to a long marriage is to marry
the right person and marrying Kaye was the best decision of his life.
Jimmy began working for Pfizer, Inc, in 1960. Based in Lubbock, Texas, he traveled
throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico calling on feedlots and
veterinarians. His gregarious and warm personality served him well and he was
promoted to Regional Sales Manager in 1975 moving the family to Liberty,
Missouri. Another promotion followed with a move to Denver and eventually
returning to Kansas City as the National Sales Training Manager. Jimmy retired
after 33 years with Pfizer in 1993.
Anyone who was around Jimmy very long learned of his passion for his beloved
Texas Tech Red Raiders, on and off the football field, his dogged determination to
master the game of golf and his pride of being a US Air Force pilot and serving his
country as an active duty officer and also in the Armed reserves for 28 years. He
retired from the US Army Reserves as a Lt. Colonel.
Jimmy volunteered for 15 years at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in
Shawnee, Kansas, served 21 years on the board of directors for Alphapointe, a non
profit agency that provides services to people with vision loss, and was a member
of the board of directors for Associated Baptist Press, an independent news
service interested in a free press, for 21 years. He also was a Senior teachers aide
volunteer for over 15 years in the Blue Valley School district after retirement.
Jimmy never knew a stranger and it is a family joke that he could be half way
around the world and run into someone that he knew. He had a rare and special
gift of finding connection with his fellow man and lifting them up. He will be
remembered by his vast circle of friends and his family as a man of enduring faith
in God and mankind and for his generosity to the church and his family.
Jimmy is preceded in death by his father, Edward Ewell Nickel, and his mother Eva
Harris Nickel. He is survived by his wife, Kaye Kelly Nickell, his daughters, Kelly
Leigh Nickell Ediger, Kenda LaNell Nickell Carey and Kristi Laine Nickell Cates, his
grandchildren, Chandler Dean Cates, Cambridge Patrick Cates, Jonathan Kelly
Ediger, and Emma Claire Carey and his sister, Eva Jeanne Nickell Powers.
The family asked that in lieu of flowers, notations be made to the Arielle and Hardy
Clemons Endownment Fund at Baptist News Global. Gifts should be designated
"Clemons Fund" and mailed to BNG, PO Box 21148, Winston-Salem, NC 27120.
Donations can also be made at baptistnews.com.