Nicholas Wayne Rhodes

Nicholas Wayne Rhodes, age 66, of Cedar Park passed away on July 27, 2023.He was born on June 22,1957 in Anderson County, Texas. Nicholas spent part of his early life in Brushy Creek near Palestine. He then moved to Bellmead, where he attended middle school and graduated from La Vega High School. After graduation, Nicholas enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Carl Vinson in Norfolk, Va. He received the Navy “E” Award (2E’s), the Navy &Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation Award.

In 2006, Nicholas met his girlfriend, Gracie, while out country dancing. They shared 17 years of love, laughter, dancing, fishing, cooking, gardening, shopping, and festivals. One of Nicholas’s passions was maintaining the lawn that he proudly referred to as “Torrey Pines. ”He liked decorating the lawn during holidays and proudly displayed our nation’s flag. Nicholas loved all pets, and most especially his dogs, Cowboy and Ginger.

Nicholas loved fishing. He was a fan of Master Bass fishing, Nascar, the Boston Red Sox, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Texas Longhorns. He listened to traditional country and Tejano music. Nicholas was so proud to be a new member of the Austin Football Officials Association. During the later years of his life, he worked as a building maintenance engineer for a real estate company.

Nicholas loved celebrating holidays with family and visiting with friends, but his greatest gift was making people laugh. He loved to play board games, where he would entertain everyone with his infectious laugh and fun-loving nature.

Nicholas is preceded in death by his dog Cowboy, parents George Wayne Rhodes and Bebe Lanelle Rhodes, and brother Chris Cross.

Survivors include his longtime girlfriend, Gracie Munoz of Cedar Park, brothers Herbert Cross and wife Barbara and their daughter Montana of Waco, Charles Rhodes, Kirby Rhodes and wife Becky and sons Roy Wayne and Rusty of West Virginia, and sister Lanelle Rhodes of Waco. Nicholas was loved and will be greatly missed by his family, Gracie's family, and many, many friends.

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society or the Leander SPCA.  A visitation with the family will be held on Friday, August 18, 2023 from 6-8 pm at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will take place the following morning, Saturday, August 19, 2023 beginning at 10 am also at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel with burial immediately following at Bagdad Cemetery in Leander, TX.