Charles Eugene Nichols — “Chuck” — age 84, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2017, while residing in Eureka.

Chuck was born in Elk River to Cecil and Helen Nichols and raised in Fields Landing as a fourth-generation Humboldt County resident. He graduated from Eureka High in 1950 and enjoyed his reunions with classmates. He served many years in the Naval Reserve, before marrying Kathlyn Lawson. Together they had four children before divorcing. He later met and married his second wife, Madonna. He worked out of the Carpenter’s Union from 1952 to 1992 and moved to the greater Bay Area for work and to expand his favorite pastime of collecting California transportation and drink tokens, old tools, WWII memorabilia, and antiques. Upon the death of his second wife, he returned to his roots in Humboldt County and to be near his children.

He was proud of his ancestral heritage and roots in Humboldt County, and continued to care for the “Atwell” ancestral grave plot on Monument Mountain Road until he was physically unable, telling stories of ancestors growing and selling fruits and vegetables to the soldiers at Fort Humboldt.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his second wife and his son Martin Nichols. He is survived by his son Mark Nichols and wife Carol of Fortuna; daughter Melinda Petersen and husband Michael of Eureka; daughter Melanie Coupe and husband Robert of Wilton; his stepchildren from his second marriage, Tamara Thomas of Livermore, Pamela Turcotte of Florida, and Randy Kryla of Willits; and his grandchildren, Martin, Justin, Nicole, Heather, Tara, Tyler, his five great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and his sisters Wilhelmina “Billie” Schmer of Colorado, and Helen Emma Scroggins of Las Vegas.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. at Madaket Plaza (Foot of C Street), in Eureka.

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The obituary above was submitted by Chuck Nichols’ family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.