Ernest Nichols

Ernest Nichols, age 76, of Grand Island, died Thursday evening, August 8, 2002, at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island.

Funeral Services will be held 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 13th at the Higby-McQuiston Mortuary Chapel in Aurora. Rev. Karl Larson will officiate. Interment will be in Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 P.M. to 8 P.M. Monday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: ERNEST NICHOLS

Ernest W. Nichols, the son of Grover and Pearl (Ingram) Nichols, was born at home near Quitman, Missouri on September 3, 1925 and died in Grand Island, Nebraska on August 8, 2002, at the age of 76.

Ernest moved with his family to Nebraska when he was a young child, where he attended school. He served in the Army during World War II.

Ernest was united in marriage to Lila Whidden on July 22, 1949, at Valley, Nebraska. They moved to their home in Doniphan in 1973. In 1982, he went to work as a gravel pumper for DeWeese Sand and Gravel south of Alda. Ernest was employed by Juniata Feed yards in 1985 as a welder, he worked there until he was forced to retire in 1990 due to failing health. After Lila passed away in 1999, Ernest went to live with his daughter, Kristine, for four months before moving to Lakeview Nursing Center in Grand Island in January 2000.

Ernest enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, listening to country music and Atlanta Braves baseball.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a daughter, Sandra Hutchinson, one brother and three sisters.

Those who remain to cherish his memory are one daughter, Kristine Elam and her husband Tom of Aurora; four sons, Steven and his wife Sony of Grand Island, Richard of Hastings, Douglas of Georgia and Robert of California; 15 grandchildren including Debbie, Jennifer and Jessica Wilson and Colten Johnson of Aurora; 3 step- grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren and one step-great grandson.