Raymond Lee Nichols

Raymond Lee Nichols was born on July 8, 1927 in Emmett, Idaho and passed away on April 23 in Spokane after abdominal surgery. Ray is survived by his wife Ann Nichols, formally Ann Barentsen, who currently lives in Moses Lake, three sons, Bob Nichols of Enid, Okla. and his wife Christina, Jerry Nichols of Golden, Colo. and his wife Debbie, and Randy Nichols of Moses Lake and his wife Beverly, and daughter Nita Wallis and her husband Glenn of Chandler, Ariz., step-sons Scott Barentsen and his wife Kim of Pleasant Hill, Calif. and Greg Barentsen of Mt. Vernon, granddaughter Dawn Sandhop and her husband Loren and their daughters Kendall and Avery of Moses Lake.

Both Ray and Ann have between them 16 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Ray was one of five brothers who was born and grew up on a small farm in Emmett, Idaho. He attended the University of Idaho and returned to Emmett where he married Shirley Butler. Ray retired from Farmer's Insurance after three decades of service in the insurance field. Their marriage lasted until Shirley's death in 1998. After a number of years Ray was fortunate to meet Ann at Homeowners Realty where they both were employed. They married in 2000 and moved to Moses Lake in January of 2006.

Ray leaves a legacy to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the importance of education, service and most of all, the importance of family. Talented and hard working, he never let his career interfere with his attendance of nearly every school, sport and other event of his children. Ray was involved in every community where he lived. For example, when the local school district couldn't afford to build a football stadium where his sons played, Ray organized and led the effort to raise the funds by creating a fundraiser in the form of rodeo. From the proceeds they were able to build a stadium at El Capitan High School in Lakeside, Calif. Kids still play football at the high school stadium. The yearly rodeo that he and others started still brings cowboys from all over the country to compete with some of the proceeds still helping kids in that community.

We will celebrate his life on Saturday, April 29 at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1142 West Ivy, Moses Lake. We understand many can't attend. As a dedication, we encourage family and friends to simply contribute to their own children in much the same way as Ray did, by participating in their activities, helping with their education, and by organizing community efforts to help the next generation to become useful, educated, productive adults.