Following a brief illness in McKinney, Texas, Houston Monroe Nichols passed from this life on Saturday, June 20, 2009. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Othelle Nichols and grandson, Stoney Castleman and brothers, W. E. Nichols, Jr., Charles E. Nichols, Benjamin Nichols and Lloyd R. Nichols. Houston was born in Jones County, near Hamlin, Texas, on January 30, 1917. He and Othelle married September 2, 1936 in Big Spring, Texas, and lived numerous years in Howard County, many of which were spent in Sand Springs. Houston was a construction worker with a renowned talent for operating a piece of machinery called a "drag-line." For years, his gardening and part-time farming talents brought people from other areas to buy his produce.Survivors include his sons, Douglas M. Nichols and wife, Shirley, of Forsan and Max D. Nichols and wife, Jan, of Big Spring; his daughter, Sandra K. Allen and husband, Jerry, originally of Coahoma, now full-time travelers; four grandsons, two granddaughters; ten great-grandchildren; and two sisters.Family visitation will be at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Funeral services will be at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at 2:00 PM with Eddy Pitchford, minister of Coahoma Church of Christ, officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 1236 Ginger Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
