Hershell "Nick" Howard Nixon

HERSHELL "NICK" H. NIXON, 86, passed away on the 8th of March 2010, after an inspiring life dedicated to faith, family, work, science, travel and the arts. Nick was born on the 4th of August 1923 on a farm outside Duncan, Oklahoma to Gilbert and Whirley Nixon (the fourth of six children) and moved to California during the great dust bowl. His parents settled outside of Bakersfield, California where Nick worked the fields starting at age 12.

Nick joined the navy during World War II and served as a quartermaster aboard the USS Pokomoke, a seaplane tender, the USS Iowa, a battleship. and the USS Topeka, a light cruiser. On the 4th of August 1949, he married Joan Lowery, with whom he shared 53 years of joyful marriage. In 1950, Nick graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. As an exploration petroleum geologist, he was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Professional Geological Scientists, the Houston Geological Society, the West Texas Geological Society and the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.

He encouraged and supported his wife, Joan Lowery Nixon, in her career as a writer and co-authored with her several books for children explaining scientific concepts, including: Land Under the Sea, Oil and Gas, and Earthquakes: Nature in Motion. Nick and his wife also received the Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children award for Volcanos: Nature's Fireworks in 1978, and Glaciers: Nature's Frozen Rivers in 1980. After he retired, Nick wrote a western for young adults, entitled The Long Way West, for which he received the Western Heritage Wrangler Award in 2003 as Outstanding Juvenile Book.

Nick was an active volunteer in every parish church to which he belonged, doing whatever he was asked, from sweeping floors to teaching religious education. He particularly enjoyed discussing theology with the parish priest. Nick and Joan helped pay for the religious education of 36 Catholic priests. Nick was well traveled, having visited China, Japan, and the South Pacific during the Navy, and later all 50 states, and much of Europe.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Lower Nixon, his eldest brother, Earl Nixon and his older sister Louise Hagan. Nick is survived by his elder brother Harold Nixon, his sisters, Joy Hutchison and Fern Tubbs, both from California and by his children: Kathleen Nixon Brush and husband Kirk Brush of Colorado, Maureen Nixon Quinlan and husband Brian Quinlan of Minnesota, Honorable Joseph M. Nixon and wife Allyson Nixon of Houston, Texas and Eileen McGowan of Houston, Texas. Nick is also survived by his 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, who all knew him affectionately as "Papa."

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 10th of March, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence at half-past six o'clock in the evening. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at half-past ten o'clock in the morning on Thursday, the 11th of March, at St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, 10503 Westheimer Road in Houston, where the Rev. Mario J. Arroyo, will serve as celebrant. The interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Mr. Nixon's memory may be directed to, St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, 10503 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX, 77042