Joseph Dowling Nicholson

Joe was born in San Pedro, California to Isabelle and Neil Nicholson. His father was a ship builder in California for 5 years before they returned to Pensacola, FL. Joe grew up in Myrtle Grove with his brothers, Neal and Brian. In his early years, Joe lived with his Aunt Glennie and Uncle Clarence on Scenic Hwy. He was the light of their life. In high school, he moved back to Myrtle Grove. There he met his lifelong friend Linny Robb. The two had a great number of adventures that would put you in prison during this day and age. Blowing out the windows of Linny’s garage during a science experiment might have been one of the tamer events. During his college years, he was driving down the road and saw the love of his life: a beautiful young lady sitting on a porch eating a bologna sandwich in the rain. He later married Laura Faye Wilson on November 10, 1961 and they were married for a mere 57 and ¾ years. They started their life together in Crescent Lake making about $125 dollars a month. Joe worked at Monsanto as a draw and twist technician. They quickly began a family and ended up with 3 boys: Randy, Kevin, and Glenn. His life was anchored by his church and his wife. Both were the center of his existence and the basis of his actions. Joe and Faye’s adventures allowed them to be members of a number of churches including St. Luke Methodist, Cokesbury Methodist, St Paul Methodist, Flowery Branch Methodist, and his last church, Encompass Methodist Church. Joe and Faye loved kids and adventures. They became youth leaders for Cokesbury United Methodist Church. The took the church youth group and their sons on canoe trips, mission trips and camping trips. One of the greatest memories of his sons is when the minister came out to the Fort Pickens state park to see the youth group receiving lessons from Joe on how to jump his motorcycle over picnic tables. The minister was not sure who was the child and who was the adult, but let it continue. As Joe and Faye’s children grew, so did their support. Faye was a cub scout and Webelo leader. Joe became the Scout Master for Troop 407. The troop flourished under his leadership and some of the scouts continued to visit him throughout the years. Joe and Faye loved all the neighborhood children and the friends of their own children. There was hardly a weekend that was not spent with his children and their friends on the river skiing. During the years it became common place for Joe to come home from the night shift at the navy base with teenagers laying on the couch in the living room because they felt safe and at home in the Nicholson house, even if his own kids could be at someone else’s house. The ultimate compliment probably came from two of the wildest kids known to man that Joe consistently counseled when they needed it. Those two told Kevin that “even though your dad yells at us, he’s one of the coolest dudes we know.” This was because Joe believed, just like God said, that you discipline those you love and care about. Amazing how those kids kept coming back for more counseling, family bonding and love. Kevin and Glenn were drummers in the marching band. Naturally, Joe and Faye took an active interest in working with the Tate Band Booster Club. Joe turned the money raising side of the booster club into a well-oiled machine. Because of Joe, the band of 300 students always have funds to go to any event they chose.

As his sons left for college, Joe and his wife started their own adventure by starting to build custom homes. He built fabulous homes throughout Alabama and Florida. In between building homes, they traveled to China, Okinawa, Japan, Central America and Europe. They dove coral reefs, entered whale feeding circles, rode ATVs through the jungle and climbed Aztec pyramids. Their greatest adventure arguably was moving to and living on a houseboat on Lake Lanier for a year. Joes many hobbies included wood working, wood carving, water skiing, camping, square dancing, snow skiing and telling horrible cow jokes. He and Faye’s social life centered around their Tuesday Night Group for 35 years. It started with high school friends and has grown over the years. They met every Tuesday night for dinner and a movie and sometimes even adventures like a cruise to Canada. Joe was once asked how he wanted to be remembered and what was his greatest accomplishment in life. He smiled and said he wanted to be remembered as a man of God who loved his wife, sons, friends and foes. He stated his greatest accomplishment was that his sons still called and visited every chance they had even though their lives and careers were overloaded with responsibilities from sun up to sun down. Joe leaves quite the family tree. Three sons, Randy, Kevin and Glenn. Randy’s wife Nancy and their daughter Faith. Kevin’s wife Dianne and their children Austin, Brandy and son-in-law Ian Dobbs. Glenn’s wife Michelle and their children Danielle and Megan. Danielle’s daughter Myah and Megan’s children Trey, Shawn and Brooklyn. There is no doubt that Joe will be remembered for all the things he wanted and so much more. The world will be a lesser place without him.

A service will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel.