Nichols

TEMPLE—Rev. Clyde E. Nichols, 97, died Nov. 7, 2018.

A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church, 300 N. 5th, Temple, at 11 a.m. Nov. 17.

Rev. Nichols was born April 14, 1921, in Van Alstyne, to Oscar Bennet and Winnie (Tipton) Nichols.

He received his bachelor of arts degree from Texas Christian University in 1942, and his masters of divinity degree from TCU’s Brite College of the Bible in 1946.

During seminary, he served Disciples churches in Anna and Frisco.

On June 28, 1945, he married Phyllis Elaine Tombaugh.

Texas congregations he served were in Athens, Nacogdoches, Big Spring, Borger and served as senior minister of First Christian Church in Temple for 23 years, from 1965 till his retirement in 1986, in which year he was named Minister Emeritus.

On Dec. 27, 1986, he married the love of his life, Marianne (Kavecki) Nichols.

Rev. Nichols was involved in Temple community activities and was instrumental in establishing the chaplaincy program of then-Scott & White Hospital.

In the larger church, Rev. Nichols chaired and served on various committees on the district/area, state/ regional and national/ general level.

He served Brite Divinity School as the 1965 president of the Alumni Association. After retirement, he served as associate minister of La Porte Community Church, and as adjunct minister of Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Nichols has written a weekly, inspirational newspaper column, “Lift Up Your Eyes,” since 1965. Today, it is carried in multiple Texas newspapers, including The Rockdale Reporter. He has now published four volumes of collections of these columns, and one volume of collected sermons representing his ministry since 1939.

In 2013, Rev. Nichols was recognized by Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University with the Distinguished Minister Award.

Rev. Nichols was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William E. Nichols.

Survivors are two sisters, Nettie Carolyn Nichols and Birdie Allene Grubbs; his wife, Marianne; and five children, Patricia Nichols, Gregory Nichols and wife Denise, Randy Nichols, Lori Russell, and Cindy O’Banion; also, eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.