Fr. Edward Nichols, Jr.

Fr. Edward Payson Nichols, Jr. died Wednesday, August 5 at The Neighborhoods at Quail Creek, Springfield, Missouri, where he had resided since 2006.

Fr. Nichols was born July 23, 1944, in Corpus Christi, Texas where his father was stationed as a U.S. Marine Corps flight instructor. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward P. Nichols II and his mother, Jeanne Walsh Nichols. He is survived by a sister, Lucy N. French, her husband, Dan, and two nephews and a niece, all of Aurora, Missouri.

Fr. Nichols was ordained a priest June 14, 1975, at St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield. He served in a number of capacities in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese, including hospital chaplaincies and the parishes of Our Lady of the Lake in Branson, Holy Trinity Parish in Springfield, Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cape Girardeau, SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Pulaskifield, St. Mark Parish in Houston, St. Vincent de Paul Mission in Roby, St. John's Parish in Leopold, St. Lawrence Parish in New Hamburg, Holy Trinity Parish in Aurora, Sacred Heart Parish in Verona, and St. Henry Parish in Charleston. He also served as a U.S. Air Force Chaplain for more than ten years.

The Mass of Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 7, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2818 E. Bennett, in Springfield. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at a later date in the family plot at Westview Cemetery in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Memorial contributions may be made in Fr. Nichols' name to St. Henry School, 306 Court St., Charleston, MO 63834.

Online condolences can be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.