Sept. 16, 1932 ~ Aug. 5, 2024
Richard Lovel Nickson, passed away on Aug. 5, 2024. at the age of 91, at the Rangely Community Medical Center.
Richard was born on Sept. 16, 1932, to George and Lily Nickson in Bakersfield, California. He was the youngest, joining his sister Fern and brother Bruce.
Richard graduated from Bakersville High School in 1950. He later attended CU College in Boulder, Colorado. He left college to join the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean War.
After the military Richard moved back to California and worked at Rocketdyne building rocket engines that powered the Apollo space flights.
It was a few years later he met the love of his life, Shirley Kay Campbell who also worked at Rocketdyne. They soon married on Dec. 8, 1961, and made their home in Semi Valley, California.
Upon marrying Kay, Richard knew he was joining a family of four. Wayne, Dena and Janalee became his. A short time later their fourth child, Gelean, was born in 1962.
They chose to move to Rangely, Colorado, for a simpler and safer lifestyle and it was there that their fifth child, Lilydee, was born in 1968.
Richard worked as an electrician and was an active volunteer fireman.
As the oilfield was growing, Richard became a submersible pump technician for ODI. He had a strong work ethic that he made sure to pass on to his children. He retired in 1997.
Upon retirement he and Kay traveled to Arizona as snowbirds for 20 years. They owned a motorhome and pulled a boat from Arizona in the winters to Flaming Gorge for the summers. He loved fishing and visiting with fellow campers.
Rich and Kay spent a few years in Arkansas still being able to enjoy milder winters and being close to family that lived there.
In 2012 Richard and Kay became Rangely Camper Park Hosts. Richard spent many years enjoying the company of family and friends and of course meeting people from around the world that passed through.
In 2018 Rich and Kay bought their permanent retirement home in Rangely. Richard enjoyed mowing and caring for his yard and feeding all the many birds year-round. Rich had his first standard poodle in the early 2000’s and after a long life with Pooh, he was gifted a second and then finally his third…Flag. He loved that dog!
Richard always supported his family in whatever choices they made. He was a great storyteller, some of them even true. He was always joking and kidding and will be deeply missed for his love of life.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents George and Lily Nickson; sister Fern Baker (Jim) of Vernal, Utah; brother Bruce Nickson (Lorraine) of Coos Bay, Oregon; granddaughter Lacey Nickson of Rangely, Colorado; and son-in-law Bernie Shafer of Rangely, Colorado.
Richard leaves behind his love, Shirley Kay Nickson; son Wayne R. Nickson (Annalee) of Rangely, Colorado; daughter Dena Kay Hutton of Mena, Arkansas; Janalee Storey (Rod) of Rangely, Colorado; Gelean Bell of Mena, Arkansas; Lilydee Chumacero (Juan) of Rangely, Colorado; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren with one more on the way.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the Rangely Cemetery.
