Obituary of Steven Phillip Nichols

Steven P. Nichols ~ 59 Vancouver, Washington November 22, 1956 ~ December 26, 2015 Steven Phillip Nichols was born in 1956 at Bitburg Air Base, Germany. He grew up moving between the US and Europe as a member of a military family. After his father retired, the family settled in Salem, Oregon. Following graduation, Steven pursued his own military career, enlisting in the United States Air Force. His career took him back to Germany, where he met Nancy Vernon, in 1980. They were married in December 1980, and welcomed their daughter Elizabeth in 1982. After 8 years of active-duty, Steven left and instead worked full-time in the Oregon Air National Guard. They had their son, Steven David, in 1985. Following 11 years on the Oregon coast stationed in Coos Bay, the family moved to the Portland/Vancouver Area in 1996. Steven spent the remainder of his almost 38 years of service at the Portland Air Guard base and the base at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Oregon. The family welcomed Steven and Nancy's only grandchild in 2011, a beautiful baby girl named Lillian Elizabeth. Steven eventually retired in November 2012, and took a part-time job working in maintenance at Applebee's restaurant, where he befriended the entire staff and went out of his way to show his kindness. When not at work, he spent his days being a wonderful papa to Lilly, (or as he called her, "Boo Boo") and watching his beloved Green Bay Packers play. He was rarely seen without his hat, a die hard fan. Steven was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in October 2015, and lost his battle less than 2 months later on Dec 26, 2015. He passed peacefully, in his sleep, with his wife of 35 years by his side. He will be greatly missed, by both family and friends, whose lives were touched by him in so many ways. Services are being planned and will be announced at a later date.