Jackie Lee Nichols

He leaves behind his wife, Leah Boggs Hamm-Nichols; sister, Judith Vanette Bodine (Bo), East Peoria IL; two daughters, Cynthia Jacobs (Bob), Jacksonville; Stacy James, Lake Mary; son, Stephen Stumetz (Aileen), Holly Hill; son-in-law, Willie Perry; stepdaughter, Julie Jones (Payton), Merritt Island; stepsons, Danny Hamm, Cocoa and David Wells, Nashville. He had 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Jerome Nichols; daughter, Sylvia Parker-Perry; son-in-law, Jesse James.

Jack graduated from East Peoria High School and went on to play baseball in the St. Louis Browns farm league until a shoulder injury dashed his hopes of turning pro. He joined the US Navy serving during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1957. After the Navy, he returned to Peoria, Illinois where he worked for Caterpillar while attending night school, receiving a BA in history from Bradley University. Initially working in the fishing and tackle business with South Bend and ZEBCO, he later transitioned to the manufacturing industry with Exxon Enterprises Inc. and National Waterlift Company where he was responsible for setting up prototype manufacturing operations. His project management skills led him to join Planning Research Corporation’s (PRC) aerospace division as head of a new prototype fabrication project, which was his entry into the aerospace industry. He went on to a 27-year career with Boeing as project lead for a variety of initiatives for NASA’s space program, including the International Space Station and the Orion spacecraft. He was passionate about his work and retired from Boeing at the age of 77.

Jack’s hobbies included golf, fishing and he had a great love of music with a special fondness for Frank Sinatra. Jack was a spiritual man with a great Christian faith and an inspiration to all who met him. He was very outgoing, maintained old friendships and made new ones easily. It was this attribute that led him to a friendship with Leah - they married on his birthday in 2007. Leah brought great joy into his life and they shared 10 happy years together.

Services to celebrate the life of this wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend will be held 2:00PM Sunday, September 24, 2017 at the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial. Graveside service will follow at Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack’s honor to Veterans of Foreign Wars, 406 W. 34th St., Kansas City, MO 64111 or www.VFW.org.

The family recommends floral orders be placed with Merritt Island Florist at 321-454-7673 or at www.merrittislandflorist.com

If you need accommodations the family recommends Comfort Inn and Suites in Cocoa Beach mention the Nichols Funeral when booking at 800-321-7713 or www.reservation-desk.com/ComfortInn