William Nicholls

1937 - 2025

William J. Nicholls

February 4th, 1937 - June 15th, 2025

North Salt Lake, Utah-Bill was born in 1937 in Pioche, Nevada. He had an older sister, Naomi and his younger brother Robert now lives in St. George, Utah. Bill's family has roots in Leeds, Utah and the nearby mining ghost town of Silver Reef. Bill's southern Utah heritage includes Southern Paiute ancestry. The family moved to Bingham Canyon, Utah in 1945. Bill's parents Jack and Kathryn Nicholls with inlaws Joe and Carrie Doyle purchased the Copper Gate Bar, and the family lived in a second story apartment above the business. Bingham and the other nearby Kennecott mining communities were very different from most Utah towns, with diverse cultures and experiences. Bill and his family had many adventures and great friendships across the town that fringed the Kennecott Copper mine.

Before he was old enough to qualify, Bill sent in "Draw Me" art contest entries and eventually enrolled in the correspondence Art Instruction Schools. Bill graduated from Bingham High School, class of 1955, where he excelled as an artist. Bill loved individual outdoor sports, and he taught himself to ski on the slopes around Salt Lake. He became an expert skier at Alta, Utah. As a young man, Bill rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, took up skydiving, and became a jazz drummer performing in Salt Lake area clubs. He took guitar and singing lessons from U. Utah Phillips. Bill became a talented photographer, painter, calligrapher, and designer. He designed paint schemes for his friend, Dick Simon's various race cars.Bill also had his own sign company, painting and designing many signs in the Salt Lake area. Later in life Bill got a pilot license and eventually got his instrument rating for single engine aircraft. He also took an interest in scuba diving and eventually became an instructor at the University of Utah with multiple certifications.

Bill met Nola Neale in the S&M skating rink on Redwood Road. They married and had three children; William J. (BJ), Jeffery C. (Jeff), and Danielle C. (Dani). Dani's daughter Nikita is Bill's cherished granddaughter. The family frequently went boating and fishing in the 60s. The family lived in Midvale, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Sandy, Utah; and then moved into a new house in Midvale. Bill and Nola divorced in the early 1970s and Bill later married Nancy Salisbury. Bill and Nancy restored an historic Victorian home next to Brigham Young's cemetery on 1st Avenue in Salt Lake. They enjoyed horseback riding, skiing, and travel.

Bill's creative career started with his own sign painting business as a young man. He later worked at Salt Lake sign companies - learning all the skill sets of the trade - and eventually he became a designer at YESCO. In the 70s, Bill started a corporate identity and advertising company named Intermark with his business partner Paul Remund. Intermark served several notable regional companies like Rhodes Bake n' Serve, Spudnuts, and Maxfield Candy.

Bill left Intermark a few years later to become Marketing Director for Healthgarde, an early healthcare computer system company in Salt Lake City. The company was renamed Telemed and was acquired by Becton-Dickenson. In a final rebranding, the company became Tenet Information Services. Bill rose to Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the company.

Bill left Tenet and formed a marketing consulting partnership with his son, BJ. They worked with a variety of clients, including a rebranding facility redesign of the Minit Lube quick oil change network to Q Lube under the company's Quaker State ownership.

Bill and Nancy divorced, but maintained a close relationship. Bill moved to a home in North Salt Lake and Nancy bought a horse property.

When Bill retired, he focused on his passion for scuba diving. He loved being an instructor at the University of Utah. Bill's sons both learned to dive, and Jeff went on many ocean dive trips with Bill. Bill also revived his passion for jazz drumming, playing many local venues with the Joy Spring Quartet, other jazz combos, and big bands.

Bill spent several of his latest years as a caregiver for his ex-wife, Nancy when she became disabled. In his last couple of years, Bill developed esophageal cancer that metastasized.

You can share memories and photos from Bill's life at mykeeper.com/WilliamNicholls1937/

In lieu of cards or flowers, please consider making a donation to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.