WILLIAM "NICK" NICOLS

June 29, 1922 - January 25, 2016

William "Nick" Nichols, 93, died at his home in Anacortes on Monday, January 25, 2016.

He was born on June 29, 1922 in Troy, NY and spent his early years in the east living in New York, New Jersey and finally Stowe, Vermont, where on Mt. Mansfield, he started his life-long love affair with skiing.

Nick's U. S. Navy WWII service brought him to Naval Station Whidbey Island where at a USO dance he met his future bride, Helen Newsom.

Nick and Helen were married on December 22, 1944; Helen said of their first meeting, 'he was handsome and even better he smelled good because he didn't smoke or drink'.

For 71 years they worked hard, played hard and shared their love of life with all they met.

Their four children, John, Leah, Bill & Vance grew up hearing stories of Nick and Helen riding Harley Davidson's in Florida, entering and even winning jitterbug contests, and exploring the country from east to west, north to south.

The family traveled across county several times, spent weekends camping with friends, and, every winter, went skiing. Nick developed a passion for skiing while a teenager tagging along with his older brother Stan. He was a member of The Over 70 Ski Club and not only earned his over 80 patch but his over 90 patch as well. Nick admitted to giving up the double black diamond runs when he was 85 but continued skiing until he was 91 He lamented that he would have skied at 92 but "there wasn't any snow."

Nick was certified as a ski instructor in 1964 and took early retirement from his civil service career to be a full time instructor and co-found Barrier Ski School at Stevens Pass. He was a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America and proudly received his 50 year pin in the spring of 2014.

Music also was a big part of Nick's life. He was a member of the Old Time Fiddler's group for many years, traveling around the northwest and the rest of the country playing music, making friends and loving life. He was always ready to entertain, pulling the mini harmonica from around his neck to "play a little harp."

Nick also loved nothing more than joining his kids on stage to play some blues and followed the local blues scene for many years anxiously awaiting the next appearance of Lee Oskar and some of the other blues groups headlining at the Rockfish Grill.

Nick's zest for life will be sorely missed by his wife Helen, surviving children daughter Leah, son Vance (Linda), and his extended family and many friends.

A gathering to celebrate his life, play some music in his honor, and swap stories will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 1pm 5pm at the Bayview Community Center, 12615 C Street, Bayview, Washington.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands. To share memories of Nick, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.

Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc.