John Cowan Nichols

He was born December 3, 1942 in New Bern, NC and was raised in Jacksonville, NC. His parents, both deceased, were John R. Nichols and Catherine Ragan Nichols.

At age 10, he began his early work as a newspaper boy and continued throughout high school, as well as playing football and baseball. He graduated from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, NC and Elon College, now University, in 1965. After graduating from Elon, he was in the US Army and later received an honorable discharge. Johnny was always very patriotic and loyal to his country.

In 1969, he joined Crawford and Company (Atlanta) and worked for the company until his retirement in 2002. The company took him many places, including Danville and Roanoke, VA and Burlington, NC, before moving him to Charlotte in 1980 as Branch Manager. Retirement was short, as he was employed by the NC Department of Justice for several years beginning in 2002.

Throughout his life, he always supported his favorite sports teams and loved watching football, baseball and golf as well as spending time with his family and many friends. He loved fishing and hunting along the NC-SC coast, and often shared stories of these adventures. Over the years, he made many wonderful memories at his condo in N. Myrtle Beach, SC and loved the beach and boating in that area.

As a person of strong faith, he was a member of Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC and attended the Crossroads Sunday School class.

Johnny is survived by his wife and best friend of 52 years, Johnette, as well as his two sons, four grandchildren, and his loyal dog, Duffy. John and Johnette were married in 1966 and had two boys, Clint and Clay. He enjoyed watching them both grow up and play sports in and around Charlotte. Clint and his wife Melissa live in Huntersville, NC with their children Mason and Lyla Kate. Clay and his wife Megan live in N. Myrtle Beach, SC with their two children, Fisher and Bennett. He has loved watching all of his grandchildren in their various sporting events in the recent years.

Johnny’s family requests that memorials be made to the Take a Kid Fishing Foundation. P.O. Box 1191, Morehead City, NC 28557. This organization was chosen due to Johnny’s love of children, fishing, and his childhood along the North Carolina coast.

Services will be held at McEwen Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28210 on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 with a Visitation beginning at 1 pm and a Memorial Service beginning at 2 pm.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.