Shawn Dale Nicholson

August 31, 1966—May 23, 2025

Shawn Dale Nicholson was born on Wednesday August 31, 1966, in Nederland, Texas to Charles Louis and Judith Ann Nicholson. The family moved to Austin, Texas the following year when Charles was transferred by IBM and then they relocated to Cedar Park, Texas a few years later where Shawn and his, then, two siblings (Charles Scott and Sheryl Ann) grew up on Kent Street, where the Cedar Park YMCA is currently located. Kent Street was a paradise for young kids growing up with hunting, fishing, fort building, bike trails, etc.; Shawn and the neighborhood kids roamed freely over thousands of acres until the car horn was honked and it was time to come home for dinner.

Shawn was the stereotypical “middle child” after Steven Andrew Nicholson was born a few years later in 1972: Brave, fearless, energetic, adventurous, hard-headed & resolute. He approached Life always moving forward and headstrong. He was a Badass Human and could 100% beat you at tennis. He could also fix almost anything, he made beautiful exotic wood pens on his lathe, and recently he cut & polished many exotic rocks into showpieces.

In 1997, Shawn and his former wife Shelley welcomed Charles Allen Nicholson, his pride and joy. Shawn was a loving father who worked tirelessly to ensure that Allen had every opportunity in his life; in particular, Shawn spent thousands of hours and many thousands of dollars with Allen’s go-kart racing! Allen was a prodigy and had great success!

Shawn was one of the hardest working humans on Earth. He started his career in the automotive industry before graduating from high school and worked his way up in that industry, starting at Hurst Automotive and then up to being the General Manager of the Vans Auto Parts chain. Then he moved up to managing Advanced Automotive, an old school Austin shop on Burnet Road and eventually he was able to purchase Riethmeyer’s Auto Repair (Best Damn Shop in Austin!) in 2018, where Allen will now step in to the ownership role.

Perhaps Shawn’s greatest Legacy was his immeasurable and inimitable willingness to drop everything and help Anyone Anywhere Anytime. You could call Shawn at 4am from literally anywhere and by 4:10am he’d be out his door, with tools and food and drinks, to come fix everything and rescue Anyone. We are ALL greatly diminished by this profound loss…

Shawn is survived by his son: Charles Allen Nicholson and girlfriend, Katie Zembo; older brother, Charles Scott Nicholson and wife, Laura, younger brother Steven Nicholson and wife, Amber, and his mother, Judith Nicholson Johnson, and his girlfriend Jan Whitley. Shawn was a loving and adored uncle by numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nephews: Ryan Nicholson (Natalie Vargas Sierra Nicholson, children: Amaru & Gabriel Nicholson), Austin Nicholson, Cody Bonner, Jessie Bonner Beasley (Tristan Beasley), Jennie Bonner, Ella Nicholson, Niles Nicholson, Crosley Nicholson, Poppy Nicholson, and Oliver Nicholson.

Shawn was preceded in death by his father, Charles Louis Nicholson, and his sister, Sheryl Ann Bonner.

Shawn’s legacy lives on through the numerous lives he touched and the love that he showed to friends, relatives, shop customers, business associates, and strangers. The world is a better place because he was in it.

A celebration of Shawn’s life will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM CST at Assembly Hall (1121 East 7th Street, Austin, TX 78702) with Remarks at 2:00. Please join us in honoring his memory, sharing stories, tears & laughter, and celebrating his lasting impact.