Carroll Joe Nichols

CARROLL JOE NICHOLS
Carroll Joe "CJ" Nichols, nearly 94, passed away peacefully March 2, 2025, at his home in Karnes City.
He was born on March 18, 1931, in San Antonio to Carroll John "Dutch" Nichols and Lula Skinner Nichols Sutherland. He spent his early years in Karnes City. His family moved to the ranch in Good Hope near Three Rivers where he started school, but they returned to Karnes City soon after. Following his graduation from Karnes City High School in 1948, he attended college at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). He entered the U.S. Army in 1950, serving in the Korean Conflict, until 1952. Upon return from service, he continued his education at Texas A&I University in Kingsville, where he obtained his bachelor's degree of Agriculture. After graduating, he married Anne Garner in 1955, and they moved to Tilden, where he started work with the Soil Conservation Service. He spent a few years working with Natural Gas, but he devoted most of his career as a loan officer and branch manager with the Federal Land Bank in Jourdanton.
He raised his family on a ranch outside of Tilden. He was an active member of the Tilden Lions Club and served on the McMullen County ISD board and the McMullen County Volunteer Fire Department. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and looked forward to trips to Colorado. He and Anne enjoyed ranch life and gatherings with dear friends in McMullen County in addition to traveling and spending time at Mathis Lake.
After his wife Anne passed away in 2001, he resided in Karnes County. In 2005, he married Thelma Seale. They often got together with friends for dinner and dancing at Jerry B's or the Floresville Opry.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather Jimmy Sutherland, his first wife Anne and his second wife Thelma.
Left to cherish his memory include his children Jean Nichols Hart (Robert) and Fred Nichols (Julie); grandchildren Jason Hart (Kelli), Rebecca Hart Labus (Clayton) and Dylan Nichols (Trisha Pittman); six great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins.
The family extends its thanks to his longtime caregiver, Josie Mediola. Lanell Hopkins, Kathy Salinas, Betty Wishert, Norma Diaz, Michelle Gonzales and Brianna Hopkins provided exceptional care in conjunction with Haven Hospice and nurse Karrie Roy and nurse's aide Caryn Peeples.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at Rhodes Funeral Home Chapel in Karnes City. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 7, at Hilltop Cemetery in Tilden.
Robert "Bobby" Hart, Jason Hart, Dylan Nichols, Jim Tom Nichols, Nash Nichols and Wade Blaha will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include Elfren Moczygemba, Charles Thompson, Nate Nichols, Clem Kasprzyck and Clayton Labus.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Hilltop Cemetery Association (P.O. Box 163, Tilden, TX 78072), Cenizo Study Club (P.O. Box 237, Tilden, TX 78072) or Randy Dillworth Scholarship Fund through McMullen ISD (P.O. Box 359, Tilden, TX 78072).