Thomas Edgar Nichols

Thomas Edgar Nichols, 60, of Big Pine Key, FL, passed away on Monday, January 11, 2016 in Big Pine Key, surrounded by his family and best friend. Tom was born on December 2, 1955 in Phoenix, AZ to Robert Edgar Nichols and Shirley Lou Long Nichols, and grew up in Clearwater, FL. Tom had enjoyed the Florida Keys all of his life, and was able to move to Big Pine Key year-round fifteen years ago with his family. Tom was an avid fisherman, diver, and lobster and spear fisherman. He enjoyed teaching scuba diving and waterskiing to his children and all of their friends, in addition to playing golf, darts, and bocce, Coors beer and spending time with those he loved. He had an infectious laugh, he never met a stranger, and Tom always saw the good in people. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and a great friend to everyone he knew. He was preceded in death by his mother Shirley L. Nichols and brother Jerry Nichols. Surviving is his father Lt. Col. Robert Edgar Nichols, USAF, Retired, of Tallahassee, FL; wife Billie C. Nichols (Melton) of Big Pine Key, FL; son Robert Anderson (Amy Marie) Nichols West Palm Beach, FL; daughters Jayne (Patrick) Haney of Murray, KY, and Cassandra (Jed) Nichols Scanlon of Big Pine Key, FL; brothers Charles Bradley Nichols of Clearwater, FL, Robert Mark Nichols of Tallahassee, FL, and David Scott Nichols of Buford, GA; and granddaughter Grace Ann Nichols of West Palm Beach, FL. To Tom's great joy, granddaughter Grace was recently born on Tom's 60th birthday, December 2nd, a birthday they also share with Tom's best friend of nearly 50 years, Kevin Mitchell. The service and burial will be at Meadowlawn Cemetery in New Port Richey, FL, on Saturday, January 16, 2016, where Tom will be buried near his mother and grandparents.