HAYS — Larry Michael Nicholson, 75, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at home. Born Nov. 22, 1941, in Nevada, Mo., he was the son of Nina Potter Nicholson and Lee Nicholson. On July 26, 1964, he married Celia Eveleigh in Hoisington. After graduating high school in Hoisington he earned a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University. He took his first job as a biochemistry professor at University of Missouri-Rolla before coming to Fort Hays State University, where he served on the faculty from 1976 until his retirement in 2008. He served as the Chair of the Chemistry Department from 1988 to 2001. He loved to travel, read, and spend time with family.
Mr. Nicholson was a member of the Kansas State Alumni Association, Lions Club of Hays, Hoisington Masonic Lodge No. 331 of Hoisington, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the American Chemical Society.
Survivors include his wife Celia of Hays; son, Eric Nicholson and wife Tracy of Ames, Iowa; daughter, Jill Nicholson-Crotty and husband Sean of Bloomington, Ind.; brother, Bill and wife Pattie of Hoisington; and four grandchildren, Jordan, Noah, Finn and Iris. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Kay Nicholson.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Dr. Reuben Lang’at presiding. Burial will follow in Hoisington Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday at Brock’s North Hill Chapel, 2509 Vine Street in Hays. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Larry and Celia Nicholson Undergraduate Research Opportunity Award, in care of the Fort Hays State University Foundation or Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home*
P.O. Box 146; 415 N. Main
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 14, 2017
