William 'Bill' Huston Nuckolls
William “Bill” Huston Nuckolls, age 63 passed away from a long illness on Nov. 08, 2010 at his home in Basin City with his wife of 43 yrs by his side. Friends and Family are welcome to join us at graveside services to be held, Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., at Country View Cemetery in Basin City, WA. The cemetery is located at 7000 Sheffield Rd. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory. Please sign the book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com
A Celebration of life, in honor of Bill will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at the home of Cody & Debby Easterday, 830 Bellflower Rd. Basin City, WA
He was born in Wenatchee, WA on October 23, 1947. Bill was the youngest of three children born to John & Lillian (Gallagher) Nuckolls. The family raised cattle on a ranch outside of Moses Lake on Stratford Rd. He attended school in Moses Lake graduating in 1966.
Bill married his high school sweetheart and love of his life Kathy Graham in 1967. They moved to Quincy, Washington where he worked for Don & Bill Hutsell at Quincy Livestock. In 1968 he went to work at Japan Airlines as a Maintenance worker. The following year after the birth of their first daughter Kelly, he went to work for Producers Livestock Auction in Quincy Washington. Bill & Kathy then moved to Wilbur where he worked for Lincoln Mutual. In 1971 he was given a chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a cattle buyer for Cudahy Pack and moved the family to the Tri-Cities. When the company closed its doors, Bill went to work for McGregor feedlot as a cattle buyer. The following year his daughter Debby was born. His job lead him to travel extensively but his time at home was devoted to his family. He enjoyed spending time at the Benton-Franklin Fair watching his children show steers and horses. He volunteered as a 4-H leader, Market Stock member and was the Business Manager for Washington State High School Rodeo. During summers, the family would join him in his travels. He always took time to make the trip memorable while in pursuit of a cow. In 1986 he went into partnership at the feedlot he was working for that became known as L&N Feeders. The following year Bill sold the feedlot and farmed for a short while. The next few years he went into partnership with his brother Rod owning and running Quincy Livestock and later purchased Toppenish Livestock. Due to his declining health he sold the companies and went to work for his son-in-law at Easterday Ranches. Until the end he did what he loved to do buying cattle at the weekly sales with his wife by his side.
Bill is survived by; his wife Kathy (Graham) Nuckolls, his daughters Kelly Malloy (Mark), Debby Easterday (Cody), his grandchildren Ashley Batiste, Kylie, Masen and Kaden Malloy. Kody Dee, Cole, Clay, and Cutter Easterday. Brother Rod Nuckolls (Nancy), Sister Sue Stewart (Bud), Sister In-laws, Jackie Knighten, and Judy Burns (Clyde) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Proceeded in death by his parents John & Lillian Nuckolls, Mother and Father in law Ken & Jean Graham, brother-in-law Neil Knighten, and friend Dave Rickenbach.
The family would like to thank the many doctors and nurses who helped him. Bill’s battles started as an infant being born with a club foot spending most of his youth in and out of Shriners Hospital. He fought many courageous battles with his health throughout his life. If you would like to make a donation in his behalf to the Shriners, the address is: 911 w. 5th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99204, or online at shrinershq.org.
For all that knew him he will be remembered for his strength and love of life and missed dearly by his family, close friends and many associates in the cattle industry.