Edwin "Nick" Gene Nichols

 Edwin “Nick” Gene Nichols passed away January 28, 2021 after a brief and sudden battle with cancer.

 Nick was born at the US Forest Service Ranger Station in Bear Idaho on June 19th, 1929.  His parents Noel “Judge” Nichols and Pearl (Perkins) Nichols were station there as well as the Kinney Point Lookout overlooking Hells Canyon.  The Nichols family also owned a small fruit orchard in Council Idaho where Nick attended school.  In 1947 the family, Nick, his parents and his sister Sharon purchased and moved to a fruit ranch in Emmett Idaho.  In 1948 Nick married Barbara “Bobbie” JoAnn Patrick.  Bobbie's father James “Jim” Patrick also owned a fruit ranch in Emmett.  Nick was on his way to the University of Idaho when Noel contracted tuberculosis.  Nick stayed home to manage the fruit ranch and packing shed.  During the 50’s and 60’s Nick purchased additional orchard and built a new packing shed and cold storage near his parent’s ranch on South Slope Road. During this period, he and Bobbie, his son Dennis and daughter Karen lost their young daughter/sister Kathy Nichols to cancer.   In the mid-60’s with the help of his father and father in-law he established Emmett Valley Fruit, a fruit packing and cold storage operation.  Packing the family’s fruit and other growers in the region.  By the early 90’s Nick managed over 400 acres of fruit orchard and several cold storage operations associated with Emmett Valley Fruit.  Nick retired in the late 90’s and sold his orchard and packing house operations.  Bobbie passed away after a 20-year battle with cancer in 2005.  Nick married Patricia “Pat” Haney in 2006. 

 Nick enjoyed life immensely.  In the 70’s and 80’s he had a motorboat moored in La Conner, Washington.  He took his children, grand children and friends on various fishing and party trips through the San Juan Islands and into Canada.  He and Bobbie made several trips to Australia and New Zealand.  He and Pat took several river cruises in Western Europe with his family.  He also was a very generous, you could not buy a drink or dinner if you were with him.  He always had a story to tell, an adventure to go on and friends to see. His love and love of life will be greatly missed.

 He was preceded in death by his parents Judge and Pearl, his daughter Kathy and his wife Bobbie.  He is survived by his wife, Pat; his sister, Sharon Sutherland; his son, Dennis and wife Linda; his daughter, Karen and husband John V. Evans Jr. Also Pat’s children, Troy and Shelly Haney, Sherri and Kirk Darnell, Shona and Todd Rachau, and Rhona and Steve Mallea.   His grandchildren and great grandchildren, Christopher Nichols, Katie and her husband King Kadlec, Mike Nichols and wife Kathy and their two sons Tristan and Declan, Laura Nichols and her partner Angela Armstrong, John V Evans III and his wife Clarissa and their daughters Kinsley and Emmarie and son Jaxson, James Patrick Evans and wife Ranie and their sons Branden and Tyler and daughter Bella, Richard Edwin Evans and wife Ashley and their son William.

 In lieu of flowers please contribute to the Mountain States Tumor Institute, 100 E. Idaho Street, Boise, ID  83712.

 Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 pm on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at the Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett.  Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday at the Emmett Cemetery. The service will also be webcast via potterchapel.com, and going to Nick’s obituary page and scroll down.    

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