William R. “Nick” Nichols, 73, of Ironton, went to his Heavenly Home, at King’s Daughters’ Medical Center on September 5, 2011.  He was born in Ashland, Ky., on May 22, 1938 to the late Okey and Mayme Mullins Nichols.  In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Georgeann Coburn Nichols, in 1999 and four brothers, Phillip, Paul, James Okey and Nathaniel Nichols.  He was a member of the Brookdale Freewill Baptist Church in Burlington and was a minister of the Gospel for about 30 years.

He retired from Kentucky Electric Steel with 38 years’ service.   He was a graduate of Ashland High School, delivered for Meals on Wheels and was an avid hunter. He is survived by his wife, Nola Hunt Nichols of Ironton;  daughters, Kim Heineman  (John) and Wendy Martin (Rodney), all of Omaha, Neb.;  brothers, Karl Nichols (Debbie) of Ashland, Ky., Keith Nichols (Nancy), of Ashland, Ky., and Randy Nichols (Sandy) of Barboursville, W.Va.;  sisters, Karen Tarring (Bucky) of Louisa, Ky.,  Debbie Haynes (George) of Flatwoods, Ky., Lynn Christian (Jeff) of Ashland, Ky., Patricia McDonald (Sam) of Ashland, Ky., and Phyllis Maynard (Fred) of Boyd County, Ky.

He is survived also by his grandchildren, Tyler Nichols, Daulton, Haylee and Anna Rose Heineman, and Logan and Lily Martin.  He also has four stepchildren, 10 stepgrandchildren, and two stepgreat-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel with Reverend Robert Chaffins and Pastor David Heavener officiating.  Burial will follow in Ashland Cemetery.  Visitation will be on Thursday evening at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Online condolences may be made to www.steenfuneralhome.com.