| Sources |
- [S26] Ancestry.com, Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1996, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2003;).
- [S731] Obituary of Rachel and John Nichols - Bangor Daily News - 2021, (Name: Bangor Daily News; Location: Bangor ME; Date: 16 Feb 2021;), Rachel and John Nichols Obituary.
On February 7, 2021, John Nichols Jr. and Rachel Delores (Farrell) Nichols, both passed away peacefully in their home, where Rachel was also born. After 74 years of marriage, they passed within 15 minutes of each other, with their son, Butch; granddaughter, June; and family friends by their side.
They were both born in Maine in 1922, Rachel on January 12, in Ellsworth and John on November 12, in Harrington, they were of the Greatest Generation.
John went to 2 years of High School in Harrington before he shipped out as a Merchant Marine. He consigned on iron ore freighters in the Great Lakes before he journeyed on ships traveling back and forth to Europe, across the Atlantic Ocean, transporting war time supplies. His father encouraged him to stop shipping because merchant ships were war time targets, so he decided to join the US Army in December of 1943. He was sent to the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. He was a Buck Sergeant, serving in the 24th Infantry Division where he was Squad leader in charge of 28 men operating 30 caliber Browning machine guns. He was awarded a Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Service Arrowhead, a Philippines Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Service Star, a Good Conduct Medal, a Victory Metal, a Combat Infantryman Badge, an American Campaign Ribbon and 2 Purple Hearts during his service. John eventually received a Red Cross early discharge in 1946, because his father was dying.
Rachel went to Ellsworth High School and soon after left to NYC doing civilian work in the war effort. Upon returning to Maine, John and Rachel met and they were married October 30, 1946, in Brewer, at Rachel's sister's home.
While they always maintained a home in Maine, John worked for Ocean Properties/Tom Walsh for 20 years and they traveled to Durango, Colorado, Alamogordo, New Mexico and DelRay Beach, Florida for hotel restoration projects, and during these work trips they enjoyed many adventures! They also relished their travel adventures to Alaska, Hawaii and Mesa Verde, Colorado. John was a member of the Bangor Carpenters Union 125 and was also a member of the local Mason's Lygonia Lodge.
Rachel worked at Willey's in the Women's Department when it was on Main Street in Ellsworth and later at Allen's Blueberry Factory during blueberry harvest and wreath making seasons.
They loved to get-away to their camp in Clifton and really enjoyed fishing together. They took delight in their Sunday drives together to visit family and friends and often stopped to enjoy a picnic lunch. Other interests included gardening, canning their harvest, but mostly dearly, and raising their children; which often included large family dinners where all were welcome!
They are survived by their children, son, Peter Farrell and his wife, Kathy, daughter, Sundae Robbins and husband, Ernest, son, John 'Butch' Nichols III, son, Vaughn (Tiger) Nichols; and grandchildren, Harvey Nichols, June Pratt, Matthew Nichols; great-grandchildren, Jocelyn Carter, Michael Carter; and great-great-grandson, Lucean Carter.
Rachel was predeceased by her brothers, Lawrence, John, Paul, Elbert, Donald, Edward, James; and sisters, Beatrice, Juanita, Leah and Marjorie; while John was predeceased by his brothers, Preston, Gordon, Lawrence; and sister, Elleanor.
They were also predeceased by grandson, Richard Littlefield; granddaughter, Christina Nichols; and great-great-grandson, Jack Carter.
A private ceremony is to be held at a later date.
https://obituaries.bangordailynews.com/obituary/rachel-and-john-nichols-1081633642
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d. 7 Feb 2021, Ellsworth, Hancock, Maine, USA