Billy Richard Nichols

Jul 4, 1923 -

Feb 27, 2024

Billy Richard Nichols passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, surrounded by family at Aspen Creek Assisted Living Center, where he had resided since October 2019. Billy was born on July 4, 1923, to parents James Robert Nichols and Clara Pearl Mack on their family farm near Everson, Wash.

Billy met Marian Sadie Sherin at a basketball game at Mount Baker High School. Shortly thereafter, Billy was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. Three days after Marian graduated, she took a train to San Antonio, Texas, where Billy met her and took her to the Bexar County Courthouse where they were married in June 1943. He was 19 and she was 17. Thus began a love story that lasted 76 years until Marian's death in November 2019. With Billy's passing, that love story continues as they are now reunited.

In April 1949, seeking a different life, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, living in Fairview until Billy built their family home near 11th and B Street. Alaska was always home.

Billy was a skilled carpenter. He was one of the first employees of Ken Brady Construction. In 1958, he started Nichols Construction. He primarily contracted for remodeling projects on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and a number of regular commercial clients. He closed the business in the early 1980s and focused on maintaining and managing rental units he and Marian owned.

Billy and Marian have three children: Melvin Nichols (Sharon) of Anchorage, James Nichols who passed away in 2010 (his widow Ann of Boise, Idaho), and Nancy Morelock (Mike) of Valley Center, Calif. Together they have 88 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and their spouses. Billy is beloved by each of them.

Billy and Marian were devoted members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They served a mission together on the Whitefish Bay Indian Reserve in Canada. Billy later served as a Bishop and Stake Patriarch. They were temple ordinance workers in the Seattle Temple for many years, traveling from Anchorage to Seattle each month to serve for a week and then return home. Billy was the first Alaska resident to be set apart as a temple sealer, first in Seattle then in Anchorage with the temple opened there.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Klatt Meetinghouse, 11701 Puma Street, near the intersection of Puma and Klatt Road.