Obituary of Robert Nicholls

ROBERT E. NICHOLLS Robert “Bob” Edwin Nicholls died of natural causes on November 7, 2008 at Roo-Lan Healthcare Center in Lacey, Washington. He was 91. Robert was born in Butte, Montana on July 30, 1917 to Robert H. and Agnes Nicholls. He spent his younger years in Butte, working as a line foreman for the Montana Power Company. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on September 23, 1942 and served overseas in Okinawa as an aircraft crash fire fighter and clerk typist. While on leave from the Army to visit his mother in Libby, he met the love of his life Myrna Brock. They became immediately engaged and corresponded for over a year before Robert was honorably discharged from the Army on January 21, 1946 as a decorated veteran with a Good Conduct Medal and Soldiers Medal, the highest award given for a non-combat soldier. They married on January 30th, 1946 in Butte and made their home there where Robert returned to the Montana Power Company for employment and their two daughters, Shirley and Roberta (Bobbi) were born. In 1950, they moved to Libby where Robert engaged in many occupations that continued to interest him: an electric shop, radio announcer at KLCB, and electrician at the lumber mill, officer of the Kootenai Valley Credit Union, Chamber of Commerce manager, musician, owned and operated Nicholls Feed and Farm Supply, motel manger, IDS representative, H&R Block representative, Grange Insurance salesman, and finally a real estate appraiser. He also made time to be active in 4-H with his daughters, artist, cartoonist, wood crafter, was an avid fisherman, tried his hand at panning gold, did a little hunting, active in the Good Sam Club, and a 50 year member of the Masonic Grand Lodge No. 85. Above all, he was an optimist. In 1978 he and Myrna purchased a motor home and logged over 75,000 very happy trails including a couple winters as “snowbirds” in Arizona. The most memorable, however, was the summer of 1984 which they spent touring Alaska. Bob chronicled the trip with a series of cartoons which his daughter Bobbi made into a quilt that was displayed at the Libby Clinic until he moved to Lacey, Washington on October 14, 2008. His beloved wife, Myrna, passed away September 20, 2008, so he moved from the Libby Care Center to Roo-Lan Healthcare Center in Lacey, WA to be near his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all had many wonderful visits and quality time in the three weeks he was near them before he passed. Bob is survived by his daughters; Shirley (Darold) Davidson of Bonney Lake, WA and Roberta (Mike) Jernigan of Olympia, WA; grandchildren, Clint (Sara) Davidson, Harley (Crystal) Davidson, Justin (Shauna) Pierce, and Jason (TJ) Pierce; and 8 great-grandchildren. At his request, there will be no formal service, however the family will gather in Lacey at Thanksgiving at Bobbi and Mike’s home to honor him and reminisce. Funeral Alternatives in Tumwater, Washington has arranged his cremation. Bob and Myrna’s ashes will be scattered at a yet to be determined location near Libby next summer. If you have “Bob” stories to share, please send them to Bobbi Jernigan at 440 Stonewood Dr SE, Olympia, WA 98513 or Shirley Davidson at 13125 Ridge Circle E, Bonney Lake, WA 98390.