Chester Bryant Nickerson

Chester Bryant Nickerson, known to everyone as Chet, passed away on April 23, 2026, in Ashland, Oregon, at the age of 68, after a courageous battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer. Born on October 11, 1957, in Springfield, Missouri, Chet made southern Oregon his home and left an indelible mark on the creative community he loved so dearly.

Chet graduated from Phoenix High School in 1975 and went on to attend Southern Oregon State College, now known as Southern Oregon University, where he pursued his passions with characteristic enthusiasm. He studied music, theatre, playwriting, and poetry, earning a place on the honor roll. It was clear early on that Chet was someone drawn to the arts in all their forms, and he never strayed far from that calling.

In the early 1980s, Chet joined the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, working on the plant crew and in Stage Operations. His time at OSF connected him to a vibrant network of artists, performers, and creators, and he touched the lives of many in Ashland's local creative community. Whether backstage or out in the world, Chet had a way of making people feel welcome.

Those who knew Chet knew a man who was friendly, outgoing, and armed with a dry sense of humor that could catch you off guard in the best possible way. He was a man of many interests. He loved photography, hiking, acting, writing and a love for science fiction. He was an avid book collector and devoted reader, and the Ashland Public Library was one of his favorite haunts. You could often find him there, lost in a book or striking up a conversation with a fellow patron.

Chet was preceded in death by his mother, Marcella Nickerson, and his father, Charles Nickerson. He is survived by his sister, Zelma Nickerson, his brother, Sam Hay and sister-in-law Joann Boyer who will carry his memory forward along with the many friends and community members whose lives he brightened.

A life lived with curiosity, humor, a deep appreciation for science fiction and a warmth for others is a life well lived. Chet gave that gift freely to everyone around him, and Ashland is a richer place for the time he spent here.