10/20/1994
Funeral services for James Patrick Nichols, 29, of Indianola and formerly of Knoxville,
who died October 20, 1994, in Indianola, were held October 24, 1994, at the Williams Funeral
Home in Knoxville.
Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. The Reverend Tim
Stanwood officiated at the services. Music was provided by Darlene Mooberry, the organist.
Pallbearers were Doug Cooper, Ted Harger, Keith Hughes, Ron Hughes, Gary Six and
Gary Wadle.
James was born on June 30, 1965, in Des Moines, the son of Linda Kay
Coop and Melvin LeRoy Nichols. Jim grew up in Knoxville and graduated from Knoxville
High School in the Class of 1983.
While in high school, Jim participated in the
wrestling program. He loved to compete. This trait became evident later in his life
as his love for sprint car racing grew. Jim had raced for the last three years and
was a much-improved driver. His car number 31, was one of the race cars featured
in an advertisement for the Knoxville Raceway.
He was preceded in death by his maternal
grandparents. He is survived by his mother, Linda Shinn, and husband, Ben of Knoxville;
his father, Melvin Nichols, and his wife, Bonnie of Knoxville; one brother, Mike
Nichols of Knoxville; one daughter, Rachel Lynn Nichols of Lovilia; one half-brother,
Scott Nichols of Fairfield; one half-sister, Kasi Wares of Knoxville; one step-sister,
Terees Jenkins of Dallas, Texas; his grandparents, Harold and Mildred Nichols of
Knoxville and his grandfather, Ben Shinn Sr. of Knoxville.
Memorials may be made
to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville. The Williams Funeral
Home in Knoxville was in charge of the arrangements.