J. Waylon "Nick" Nichols

James Waylon (Nick) Nichols was born October 8, 1936 in Doddridge township, Miller County, Arkansas, son of the late Lake Vestal (Nick) Nichols and the former Medie Marie Lundy. He graduated Denver City High School in 1953, and The University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 1975. He served in the United States Air Force Security Service (Intelligence) from 1954 to 1958, with active duty in Japan and Turkey.

He worked for many years as a volunteer in the credit union movement, on the local – as well as the chapter – levels, in the capacities of member of the credit committee, chairman of the committee, loan officer, president-elect, president and advisor to the board of the Permian Chapter of Credit Unions. He served numerous years as a member of the board of the Humane Society of Odessa. Furthermore, he served many years as a volunteer for the Star Chapter of the American Alzheimer’s Association in the Odessa Office, as well as a three year term as a board member of the Permian Playhouse, and was their OCAH 1999 nominee for volunteer of the year. He was a member of Fellowship Lodge #1385 A.F. & A.M., officer and lifetime member of Earl S. Bailey Post 430 American Legion, and a lifetime member of American Intelligence Agency (a successor of the US Air Force Security Service Intelligence Agency). He was an ordained deacon in the Presbyterian Church USA.

On September 25, 1959, he married the former Leona Louise Maxwell of Odessa in the main sanctuary of the University Presbyterian Church in Austin with Dr. Logan Wilson officiating. They were soul mates, and – in their retirement years – they traveled extensively (often on a whim), as they discovered their mutual love and enjoyment for genealogical research. Together, they spent hours in dusty archives of old courthouses and libraries as they traversed the southeast.

Waylon died Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at Lincoln Towers. He was predeceased by an infant sister in 1929, his father in 1990, his mother in 2000, and his wife in 2003. He is survived by two sons: David Eugene Nichols of Odessa and Ramon Andrew Nichols of Redondo Beach, California, and one grandson, Maxwell Clark Nichols of Dallas; one sister, Norma LaNell Nichols Daniel and her husband, James, of Dallas, Georgia; two nieces: Shelia Carol Daniel Wigley and her husband, Eugene, of Dallas, Georgia, and Sabrina Marie Daniel Christian, and her husband, Eric, of Kennesaw, Georgia; one nephew: Lyndon Bruce Daniel and his wife, Dawna, of Avondale Estates, Georgia; three great nieces: Kristin Nicole Wigley Moulder of Dallas, Georgia, Lauren Christian of Kennesaw, Georgia and Zoe Ray Daniel of Avondale Estates, Georgia, and two great nephews, Wesley Christian of Kennesaw, Georgia and Eddy Daniel of Avondale Estates, Georgia; one great-grand niece, Emma Moulder of Dallas, Georgia, plus several cousins; and, of course, his long time running buddy, pal and self-adopted brother, Del NeSmith. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 4, 2012 at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home with Rev. Jimmy Braswell officiating. It was Waylon’s request that his cremains be intered privately beside those of Leona and without services. He also requested that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Humane Society of Odessa, 7012 Mockingbird Lane, Odessa, Texas 79763.