William 'Bill' Nichols was born April 10, 1947 in Fort Worth, TX to Troy and Grace (Bogan) Nichols. When he was about a year old his family moved to Mansfield, TX. All his education was received in Mansfield, where he graduated in 1965. Bill held various odd jobs throughout his life, a few of his favorites were the Vet Clinic in Mansfield, TX, being City Manager at The Presidio Theaters in Austin, TX, and handling sales for a landscaping supply company in Austin, TX. However, it was when he was a ring man at an Auction House in San Marcos, TX. that he found his love of junk and antiquing. Bill moved to Sterling, Nebraska in the 90's. There he partnered with Dean Young and when they went their separate ways, Bill owned and worked at Sterling Antiques which later became Nichols Antiques LLC. This business took him to Canton, TX to sell antiques.

Bill and Cindy (Davison) Gorman Nichols married on Oct 5, 2000 at the Pawnee City Courthouse in Pawnee City, NE. Cindy also had a love of antiques and accompanied him on monthly trips to Canton, TX to sell antiques. On those trips, they would go through Mansfield to drive past his childhood home.

Bill had 7 children from previous marriages and 4 step-children through his wife Cindy, 36 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

After he retired due to health issues in August of 2022, Bill still kept very busy and never seemed to have enough to do. He was happiest when he was working. Bill was the hardest working man his family have ever known. Bill passed away on Nov. 26, 2025 at 78 years, 7 months and 16 days of age, in his home that he shared with his wife Cindy in Sterling, NE.

Bill is survived by his wife Cindy of Sterling, NE, brothers Robert Nichols and wife Teresa of Schertz, TX and Troy Nichols and wife Susan of Pulaski, VA, his children, Natalie M. Nichols of Houston, TX, William 'Evan' Nichols and wife Kym of Burleson, TX, Susan L. (Nichols) Tomlin and husband Matthew of Cleburne, TX, Gregory B. Nichols and wife Ashley of Mansfield, TX, Brecon E. (Nichols) Thaggard and husband Brandt of Little Elm, TX, Erin L. Nichols of Burleson, TX, and Meghan E. (Nichols) Rodriguez and husband Eli of Burleson, TX, step-son Jeremiah T. Gorman and wife Michelle of Saugatuck, MI, step-daughter Nichole (Gorman) Keena and husband Josh of Lincoln, NE, 36 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Carmen Davison of Tecumseh and Elizabeth Blevins and husband Mike of Nebraska City, nieces, nephews, along with many friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Troy and Grace (Bogan) Nichols of Mansfield, TX, step-sons Daniel J. Gorman of Lincoln, NE and Christopher J. Gorman of Tecumseh, NE and brothers-in-law Charles Davison and Randy Davison.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, December 12, 2025 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Chaplain Sharon Schuster officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Albert Haws, Doug Schmidt, Joe Madden, Ryan Dittmer, Rick Markey and Jerry Rowden. The service will be livestreamed on the Wherry Mortuary Facebook page for those unable to attend. Graveside inurnment will follow in the Sterling Cemetery, Sterling, Nebraska. Memorials may go to the family's choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Tecumseh, Nebraska. ***