William Carey Nichols, Jr. (Nick), 68 of Tallassee, AL, passed away on September 8, 2024.
Born February 20, 1956 in Marion, AL to Doris and Carey Nichols, Nick attended Francis Marion High School, Troy State University, and Auburn University.
Nick began his career with the state of Alabama in 1977 as a conservation trainee at the Marion Fish Hatchery working his way up to Biologist Aide. After obtaining his Fisheries degree from Auburn University, he was hired as a Biologist and eventually promoted to the Hatchery Supervisor position at Marion. In 2000, he moved to Montgomery as the Assistant Chief of Fisheries and was later promoted to the Chief of Fisheries in 2015. Nick retired in 2019 after a long and successful career with the Fisheries Section of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division
Nick was a husband, father, son, brother, and most of all he was a child of God. He enjoyed camping, hiking, cooking, photography, biking, and canoeing. Nick waited a long time to find someone who shared his interests, but in Cindy, he found his soulmate and the love of his life. Together, they enjoyed many adventures. From Washington to Maine, they traveled the country camping and hiking our national parks. They canoed the Hiawassee and Little Rivers; scheduling a trip to North Georgia every fall to coincide with the apple harvest. In April, they traveled to Missouri to camp and experience the total solar eclipse in its direct path.
Their son, Will, shared a special bond with his dad. To see them together, it was obvious that they were father and son. They seemed to share a secret language; at times erupting into laughter from some joke that only the two of them would understand.
Nick was preceded in death by his father, William Carey Nichols, Sr. He lives on through his wife, Cindy LaPorte; son, Will Nichols; mother, Doris Nichols; and sister, Lynn Jordan (Mike),brother-in-laws; Eddie LaPorte (Jan), Bryan LaPorte (Estelle), Sister-inlaw; Lynne Day, numerous nephews and nieces, and countless people who knew him as “Mr. Nick”.
Graveside services were held Wednesday September 11, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at New Live Oak cemetery with Minister Andrew Kingsley officiating and Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home of Selma directing. The family received friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Pallbearers were Don Boyle, Art Nichols, Eddie LaPorte, William Curran, Billy Curran, and Lawton Curran.
Honorary pallbearers were Bryan LaPorte and Michael Jordan
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to one of the following:
Children’s Harbor
434 Childrens Harbor Drive
Eclectic, AL 36024
UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care Department of Medicine Development Office
1808 7th Avenue South Building 420
Birmingham, AL 35294
UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center WTI 210
720 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35294
