Obituary of Douglas ernest nicholes

Douglas E. Nicholes, 85, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, well known educator and friend to all, passed away after a long illness on February 21, 2015. He was born October 8, 1929 to Howard and Hope Nicholes. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lou Devey, May 2, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were blessed with two sons and two daughters: Douglas D. Nicholes, Anne [Floyd] Huxford, Richard [Danette] Nicholes, and Lisa [Blair] Waldron. They have 14 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Douglas attended schools in American Fork graduating from American Fork High in 1947. He received his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University. As an outstanding educator, Douglas loved his work as principal and knew every child’s name and their brothers and sisters. One year he had to learn 800 names. He won many awards for his service in the education field. In the community he served as American Fork Library Board Chairman and City Recreation Committee Chairman. He also worked with the Boy Scouts and was a Silver Beaver. Doug was Santa to many children in the community. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and served in office of the chaplain in Alaska. Douglas served an LDS mission as a young man in Hawaii, and later served as Stake Sunday School President, Stake High Councilor, Bishop, served in Provo and Mt. Timpanogos Temples and as Stake Patriarch. He and Mary Lou were Ushers on Temple Square, Hosts at Joseph Smith Memorial and Missionaries for the International Affairs Office in Washington DC. Douglas is survived by his wife, children, sister Sydney Thomas and sister-in-law JaNae Nicholes. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Tracy, Frank [Carol] and Ross. The family offers a special debt of gratitude to Dr. Doug Mower and all the caregivers during his final months. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at American Fork LDS 23rd Ward chapel 680 North 350 West. A viewing will be held Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. at Anderson and Sons Mortuary and Saturday, 9:45 to 10:45 at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Please share a memory on andersonmortuary.com.