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Roy Nichols Obituary
1929 -2019
Roy passed peacefully on December 28, 2019 with his family at his bedside after a courageous battle with a respiratory illness.
Roy Ernest Nichols Jr. was born January 2, 1929 in Berkeley, CA to Roy Sr. and Alma M. Nichols. Roy leaves behind his beloved wife of 68 years, Jane Elizabeth Nichols; daughters Gail (Stephen-deceased) Ricks of Pleasant Hill, CA; Terri (Jack) Cooley of Alameda, CA; Laureen (Kenneth) Cuneo of Orinda CA, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
After graduating high school Roy joined the Coast Guard in 1947 at the age of 18. While in the Coast Guard he traveled to many exotic ports and the treacherous North Atlantic seas. Roy served as the Officer in Charge of the Merchant Marine Detail in Saigon, Vietnam during the war 1968-1969, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for "meritorious service". Roy retired from the US Coast Guard as Commander in 1973 after 26 years of dedicated service.
He was then employed by Crowley Maritime Corp. as director of Crowley Environmental Services, eventually becoming General Manager of the company's 14 passenger vessels in SF Bay Area and Catalina. Roy enjoyed extensive travel while working for the International Maritime Organization, a division of the United Nations during his early retirement years. Roy and Jane settled in Reno in 1981 where they enjoyed retirement with their many friends, family and at their home in Lake Tahoe.
A military honors burial service will be held on March 6, 2020 at 12 pm at Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 14 Veteran's Way, Fernley, NV. Celebration of Life will follow 2 -5 pm at Vino Reno in The Grill at Quail Corners, 6520 S McCarran Blvd, Reno, NV.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Roy Nichols
2 Entries
Susan Varnum
February 9, 2020
I will miss Nick terribly. He was a wonderful friend and trailmaster...leading us on many journeys searching for the Freemont Cannon..
Sue Varnum
February 9, 2020
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