Ethelyn Royce Nichols

Royce Nichols, 89, passed away Saturday, October 25. Royce was a devoted Christian who served the Lord and her family throughout her amazing life. She leaves an amazing legacy to the Tallahassee area through the work of her and her husband of 69 years, Douglas Nichols, in providing services to special needs children and later on to adults as well.

In the summer of 1953 Royce met and fell in love with Doug Nichols, the brother of her high school best friend, Joyce. After dating for two and a half years Royce and Doug got married at her parents home in Crestview, Florida. Doug was a new 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force assigned to Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. Their first child, Parke was born in Topeka with Down Syndrome. Parke was the love of their lives and provided the catalyst that would lead to them both working and advocating for children and adults with special needs for many years to come. They would next live in San Antonio, Texas where Doug was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base as an instructor navigator. Leaving active duty in 1959 they returned back to Tallahassee.

Throughout Doug’s business, political and Air Force Reserve careers Royce was always by her husband’s side assisting him while raising four boys at home. She was an instrumental part of his construction business where she handled all of the interior decorating for many homes and apartments in the Tallahassee area. She was the primary manager of four day care centers, where she supervised over 50 staff that provided services to approximately 300 children. Later on she and Doug became “unretired” when they started a tree nursery business that shipped items all over the southeast part of the country.

Throughout her life she continued to serve those with special needs. She led and assisted with efforts to provide a Sunday School class at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee for those with special needs and physical handicaps.

Royce was an accomplished artist (oil paintings) and pianist. She loved playing the piano in her church where she grew up and produced many wonderful paintings over the years.

She is preceded in death by her son, Parke and her parents. She is survived by her husband Douglas Nichols and sons Jeff Nichols (Jill), Barry Nichols and Craig Nichols, six grandchildren, Matthew Nichols (Sally), Alison Nichols, Harrison Nichols, Temple Kortum (Spencer), Rebecca Nichols and Hayden Nichols and one great grandchild, Leo Kortum.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Leon Advocacy & Resource Center (LARC), www.leonarc.com.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, 11:00am, November 3, 2025 at Culley’s MeadowWood location, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Florida. There will be a graveside service followed by food and fellowship inside the main building