Bobby Ray Nichols

Bobby Ray Nichols, age 88, of Clay passed away on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Born in Perry County, he graduated from Demopolis High School in 1953. He served the United States Army training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, California and become a Russian Language Specialist. Mr. Nichols met and married his beloved wife of 55 years, Mavis, in Aliceville in 1957. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Livingston University in 1962. After working in the welding and fabrication industry for some time, Mr. Nichols started a private business engineering structural steel designs for many of the leading concrete and rock processing companies in the Birmingham area. He retired in 2000, with over 35 years in the industry. Some of his favorite pastimes were classic-style music, gardening, bird watching, and vacationing in Panama City Beach. Mr. Nichols attended Crosspoint Church and was a believer in Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest and Grace Nichols; his beloved wife, Mavis Jones Nichols; and brother, George W. Nichols (Dorothy). He is survived by his brother, Leo B. Nichols (Voncile); sister, Dorothy Jean Wolf; son, Gary Nichols; daughter, Karen Rae Nichols Gilbertson (Kyle); grandchildren, Leigh Nichols Teer (Heath); Alana Crowder Patterson; Stephen Nichols; Hayden, Madelyn, Ethan, Cameron, and Collin Gilbertson; great-grandchildren, Talon, Josiah, Graham, and Silas Crowder; and Linkyn Teer. A memorial service will be held on Saturday February 19, 2022 at 2:00PM. Visitation will be from 12:00-2:00PM from the Chapel of Kilgroe Funeral Home in Leeds, Alabama. Condolences may be offered online at www.kilgroefuneralhome.com