Stephen “Steve” Edward Nichols, of Vero Beach, passed away on Dec. 28, 2015. His wife and road partner were at his side.
He is survived by his wife Shirley Carter Nichols; children Stephen L. Nichols and Bobbi Jo Miller Borkowski; three grandchildren, Krystal Dumont, Angela St. Pierre, and Cami E. Nichols; sisters Sheila Mae Jordan (Walter), Sandra Faye Elmore; brother Charles “Sam” Nichols;
three nieces, Crystal Jordan, Brandie Bradley, Samantha Price; and three nephews, Shane Wymer, Mark Tucker and James Elmore.
He also leaves behind his little buddy Tinker Belle, his 8-year-old Chihuahua.
Nichols was born May 23, 1950, in Winchester, Va., and was the eldest son of Evelyn Clark Nichols, who survives him, and Charles Edward Nichols, who preceded him in death.
He was married to Shirley Carter Nichols, whom he met in Winchester, Va., in 1973. They moved to Vero Beach shortly thereafter and were happily married for 42 years. He and Shirley where fortunate enough to recognize there is such a thing as love at first sight. Wherever you saw one, you always saw the other.
Nichols graduated from Vero Beach High School in 1968 where he was an avid baseball player (pitcher) and continued to play for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Team. After high school he was drafted at the age of 19 into the United States Army where he was stationed in Colorado.
He retired from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Department in 2008. He was extremely passionate about his job and looked forward to going to work every day. He enjoyed the position he held as a Master Road Deputy and wanted to be out on the road when he wasn’t training new deputies for the road.
Nichols was known throughout the community as a very compassionate and fair deputy. He made many friends throughout his 25 years of service. If you saw a tall, handsome, full mustached man in uniform come into any of the local 7/11 Stores you would know him by his huge big gulp cup that he refilled throughout the day. If his health would have allowed it, he would still be working. He missed his position when he retired due to major health problems.
He was a previous member of Woodmen of the World, the local Moose Club, and the Fraternal Order of Police and a volunteer for the VNA Hospice Hidden Treasures. He loved to come into the thrift store and tinker with the broken electrical items, fix them and be able to put them out on the floor for resale.
He fought a hard and long battle with cancer, and was still fighting for his life when his body gave up. He loved life, baseball, fishing, camping, tinkering with his iPhone, and traveling.
The family received friends from 2 to 3 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 2 at the Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home, Vero Beach. A Celebration of Steve’s Life followed at 3 p.m., with Chaplain Mindy Serafin, officiating.
Condolences may be given at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
