I will surely miss Steve.  He was always encouraging and willing to share his knowledge about chemicals and toxicology.  We worked together for the Shelby County Medical Examiner's office, I in maintenance and Steve as an investigator and several other jobs which included seminars on various forensic studies.  Even after hhis retiring and working in other labs, we kept in touch. He wanted me to start a hardwood flooring business so we would have something to do, as if he needed more to do. He was always doing or studying how to do something.  
Steve usually was able to mention his family and was obviously proud of Andy his son.  I did not meet Andy until the day of the funeral, but felt I new him through Steve's conversations about him.
I will always cherish the smile he had for everyone he met.  Anger came and went like a breeze and never tarried long.  Steve couldn't keep the smile away, so his main emotion was happiness.  
I have met many people in my life but few measure up to Steve Nichols.  He is a true friend and I look forward to the day we meet up again in Heaven.  I am sure that he is up to something there.  
I will keep his family in my prayers and thank God for the privelege of calling Steve 'friend'. Thanks for sharing him with his friends.

Billy Clark
Memphis, TN

Cindy and Andy,
I am so sorry for your loss. I, too, was shocked to hear of Steve's passing. I knew Steve through the teaching he did with Paulette at our facility in Little Rock. I always looked foward to Steve being here for the BPA class as I knew the class would run smoothly and the students would receive great instruction and assistance. Student evaluations of the class were always extremely positive and the interactions with Steve were greatly appreciated by them. I regret future students will not have the opportunity to learn from him.  Steve will be greatly missed by me and the staff at CJI.

Cindy and Andy, 
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss.  Andy, I have not ever met you, but I had the great honor of working your dad while I ran the National Forensic for almost a decade.  He was one of the first people that I met back when I was completely green.  He and Paulette were not only incredibly wonderful to work with but they also became great personal friends to the point that on a couple of occasions, Steve brought Cindy with him on some of our traveling training sessions around the country.  I felt so honored that I was able to share this time with them and get to know them on such a personal level.  I always loved how much fun I had working with Steve. He was always professional and entirely dedicated to training crime scene investigators but the two of us also had the ability to absolutely crack each other up while we were working.  The look he had when he had something funny to say let you know that a good laugh was coming.  You know the look...

I was deeply saddened to hear of Steve's passing. After having attended on of Steve's BPA courses, I had the pleasure of hosting one of Steve's excellent BPA courses in Washington State and got to know him better while helping plan the Washington site seeing excursion that he took after the class.  Steve was an excellent teacher and forensic professional. Through his teaching and forensic work, he has made a huge impact by allowing victims and their families to see perpetrators brought to justice.  Because of the number of people he has graciously shared his expertise with; his influence on the criminal justice system will continue to last for decades.  Steve will be sorely missed as a person and professional

Dear Cindy,

Steve will be very sadly missed in the forensic community. As a friend, colleague, and student of Paulette Sutton's, I had the privilege of learning from Steve during a course he co-presented with Paulette in 2008. I appreciate Steve's warm personality, his welcoming spirit, and all of his contributions to my learning. My sincerest condolences to you and your family. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Laura Pettler,
Carolina Forensics, LLC
Waxhaw, North Carolina

Dear Cindy and Andy, I was shocked when I heard that Steve passed away. Two days ago I was watching a CD with photographs of the BPA course in Memphis held by Steve and Paulette. I remember that we had a wonderful time in Memphis and we learned a lot!!! During the following week my stay in Memphis was fantastic because Steve and Cindy took me out for dinner almost every night. Is is indeed a great loss for all of us and, needless to say, for the Scientific Community which lost a very good teacher and expert in Forensics! I will never forget your suggestions and teaching! Goobye my dear friend! I will see you on the other side! I want to remember you and Cindy happy and smiling in Parma! May God bless you and your family! I will miss you!

Throughout Steve's illness I have throught and prayed for him often. Today my thoughts and prayers are for his family and friends that they may find comfort and peace knowing Steve is now in Gods hands.
 
Myself and several other's from law enforcement agencies in Utah have had the opportunity of benefiting from Steves knowledge and experience in the field of forensics. Those he taught continue to speak highly of him often requesting he return to teach more of what he knows. Steve will be missed by all of us in Utah whose lives he has touched with his knowledge and friendship. Goodbye my friend, you will be missed until we meet again.

Cindy and Andy,
As you know, Steve was one special guy. I always thought of him as a older brother because Phelan and I are best friends. He always took the time to talk to me and to find out what I was doing on the farm, hunting or life in general.
I phoned him in October and we talked for at least a half hour. I am so glad to have had that conversation with my brother Steve. 
I remember Phelan had me to race Steve in their backyard one time and I got smoked! Steve had just turned 40 and ran barefoot! I think Andy got to witness that. I was amazed at his agility and youthfulness. Steve was one fun guy to be around!
Anyway, ya'll are in my prayers and thoughts. 
Kent

We were sadden to hear of Steve's passing.  Both of us will always have fond memories of Steve and what a wonderful person he was.

Janet Cunningham Jones
Susan Lowrey Tice

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. So many great young memories of our times at the lakes. We love you.

You are in our thoughts and prayers. Steve was a wonderful, caring, and loving person.  We will miss Steve    as will so many.  

May God comfort you and give you peace knowing that one day soon you will see Steve again.

Steve was always one of my favorite people in school. He was kind to "the new kids".  I know he is missed by all who knew him. My heart goes out to his family.

Cindy and Andy my thought and prayers are with you. Steve was a special friend going back 42 years when we were band members and roommates at Northwest. He remained a true friend and I will miss him.

As a long-time friend of our teammate, Barbara Treadway, Steve came periodically to the regular Monday night basketball practice of The Age Defyers.  We play 3-on-3 half court basketball in Senior athletic competitions.  Our team plays in the Female 65+ age category.   Steve would help us with our warm-up practices, then would scrimmage with us when we had fewer than 6 members present for practice, and more often, to give a rest to us who needed a time out.  It was always fun to play with Steve, whether he was on your team or your opponent.  He never used his size and strength to intimidate us little ladies,as he called us.  He consistently tried to feed the ball to his team mates to allow them the shots.  I liked to guard him when he was on the opposite team.  Being fast, I could occasionally steal a ball or block a pass. It was a fun challenge to compete with him for the rebounds.  Steve made us keep score, so that we would play harder and more competitively.  Steve will always be lovingly remembered as an honorary member of the Age Defyers basketball team.

I am so sorry for your loss. I have such pleasant memories of Steve from our years in school together. May God carry you and the rest of his family through the days ahead.  Debbie Pennington

Steve and I went through all 12 years together at the Olive Branch School.  In all that time I never heard one unkind word from his mouth.  I can only remember his sweet, friendly smile that seemed to always be there.  He was one of those rare people who can get along with anyone and was always willing to help out.  I know the class of 69 will surely miss him at the next OB reunion which he so graciously handled for us through the years. I will personally miss my longtime friend.                                              
Barbie Carter Van Eaton (Olive Branch classmate)

May the love of those around you help you through the days ahead.

Mark Rutland and Lynn Thompson

Andy and Cindy,
Very sorry to hear about Steve.  We have some fond memories of spending time with your family.

Steve was a great asset and a good friend.  He will be sorely missed by lots of us at the Police Department. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this trying time in your life.

Cindy, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry for your loss.

My love and prayers go out to the Nichols family, sorry but I have been sick and was unable to attend the funeral service today.  I have known Steve and his family a lifetime and he will be missed, I enjoyed working with him on the class reunions, he was a wonderful young man.

My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead.

Sorry to see you go, Steve.   My condolences to your family.

Mrs. Nichols,
I only knew Steve for a short time through two of our local professional organizations, Memphis Society of Clinical Lab Science and the Greater Memphis Association of Blood Banks.  He always attended the meetings and was always so willing to help in whatever way he could.  I am very sorry for your loss.  May God peace and love comfort you during this time.
Jannette Glover

I worked with Steve and Phelan about 20 years ago at Med Express and had not seen him since.  But I always had fond memories of him. He was always so nice and had lots of interest. Steve and I talked about gardening (he could always out garden me) and he talked about how much his treeing walker hound loved Andy, his son. I also had a treeing walker hound.  It is so sad to hear of his illness and his passing.

Cindy - We have been friends for many years. My prayers and thoughts will always be with you and your family during this time. God blessed you with a great husband and friend. Now Steve will be watching you from above like my Mother has been doing for our family.

Oh Steve, it seems you have left us too soon.  
Although your journey here has come to an end you are now on a beautiful journey with those who have gone before you and your Heavenly Father that knows no end.  You were so loved and cherished by Cindy, Andy and your family and many friends.  You will be missed terribly.  Rest well Kind Man. Love, Terry

our regrets for not being able to travel there this weekend from Florida and our regrets to the whole family.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all the family Steve was a wonderful gentleman and we will always have only good memories of him. God bless you !!!!  Jean and Paul Lucas

Cindy, open your heart to God's grace, and allow Him to help you shoulder the burden of this tragic loss. We are all better people for having known Steve.

Cindy,
I'm praying that you all will feel the comfort only God can give at this difficult time.

I was so sorry to hear about Steve. I worked with Steve and Phelan at LabCorp before it closed. I know you will miss his sweet spirit but he is in a great place now. I will be praying for each of you during this difficult time. 
Kathy Davis Avon, Ms.

Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.

I met & immediately became good friends with Steve in the fall of 1978 (we both worked at UT). We have been thru divorces, marriages, births, & deaths together. What a gentleman Steve was, always helping someone as he did me after moving in to my new house (1994). I am saddened by the loss of my good friend, but I know his pain and suffering is over. My thoughts & prayers go out to Cindy & Andy as well as the rest of the Nichols family. Rest my friend, you deserve it. I pray that God blesses your soul and comforts your earthly family.

Dear Cindy,
I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
Love,
Linda McVean

I am so sorry to hear of Steve's death. What a good person. Always helpful and friendly. Cindy, prayers for you and your family.

STEVE HAD A GENTLE SPIRIT. GREAT PERSON TO BE AROUND. HIS SMILING FACE WILL BE MISSED IN THE HALLS OF ATN.  GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOUR FAMILY

Cindy, Andy, Harold, Sammy, Phelan, Laura and John

Some of my fondest childhood memories are those of spending summers with Steve and Sammy at Maywood and romping the hills and gullies of Pleasant Hill.

We pray the love of God enfolds you during your journey through grief.

We send you thoughts of comfort,

Philip Stewart & family

Cindy, I hadn't seen Steve in years, but come deer season I couldn't help but think of he and Maury deer hunting many years ago on part of our land. So sorry for his passing.

The night my dad died, I sat down and cried.  Steve was the first person to walk over and console me.  I've always remembered this moment and Steve will always have a special place in my heart.  Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers during your time of need.

Cindy, you remain in our thoughts and in our prayers.  We are so sorry for the loss of your beloved Steve.  God bless you with His Peace.  In Him, David and Janina Tiner

Ms Cindy Im sorry to hear about your loss. You and your family are in our prayers.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this very difficult time.  My God wrap his loving arms around you and hold you close.  
Love, Josh and Rachel

I cannot ever remember Steve without recalling his always positive attitude towards the people he worked with, the quiet ways in which he overcame technical difficulties, the constructive aspect he applied throughout his life whether at work or at home.  There is an innate grace in such souls as his, and I learned much from his quiet works that influenced me not by his actions, but by this quiet competency.  A competency derived not from his advanced skills, but a competency founded in the confidence of a soul at rest.  

At rest with himself and at rest with his relationshps with co-workers, friends and especially with family, but most of all in his unfettered confidence that death was but a passage to the light of God's great message.  I imagine him now, feeling so sorry to see our selfish sorrows of loss, when in the presence of such glory.  Our hot and bitter tears are needfull to us, but I imagine seem foolish in the welcome presence of those who are welcoming Steve now. I pray that all about him are weeping as well, but weeping with the joy of God's salvation, tempered by their painful pity of our selfish desires to have him still to ourselves.

I pray our vain tears will soon be replaced with the joy of God's Love as we remember the undeniable truth in God's Word.  His unfaltering Faith, and our own happiness that Christ has shown us, through Steve's example, how to live, how to give, and how to trust, and place God's Grace above all.

Goodbye Steve, pray for us, and we'll catch up with you later.

O'Brian and Marge Smith, and Teresa Campbell

Our thoughts and prayers are with you & your family during this time. No words can remove the pain and sorrow surrounding your hearts...but over time...May you be able to slowly replace the sadness with wonderful memories that will last your whole life through...until the day when you will see Steve again. We are praying for you.

Thoughts and prayers are with you all during this sad time.

Cindy, Brian said, "Steve made it through his birthday and Christmas for everybody." So glad we were able to see Steve a couple of times over the past few weeks, when he and Phelan were discussing the future of Ole Miss football or he was helping us with deer recipes.  He will remain in our hearts as one of the kindest people we have ever known. What a blessing to have been married to such a man. Steve was the Christian I want to be.

Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are very close in every thought and prayer. 

My family is praying that God may give your family comfort and strength during this time as you celebrate his life. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Steve!  He always made me laugh.  :) 

God's word and his promises will help us find our way in this life until the day that we are able to see His face.

Cindy, my earliest childhood memories include Steve and Maury.  Steve was like a brother to me. You and your family are in our prayers as I weep for the loss of a good man and true friend to Maury and our family.

Andy,
We are very sorry for your loss and are thinking about you.

Mike, Gina, William and Kinzie

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and his many friends.  May God Bless each!

OBITUARY

Steve Nichols

November 13, 1951 – December 28, 2011

Brantley Funeral Home

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