March 31, 1931-Feb. 10, 2018
Disposition: Cremation. Memorial service: At a later date.
Peter Ward Nichols, 86, was born March 31, 1931, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Alice Thayer (Welty) and William Byron Ward and died Feb. 10, 2018, in Austin, Texas. Peter shared many years between his Stockton farm and Austin, Texas home.
Peter attended primary schools in Texas, New York, Colorado and Indiana. He attended college at Colorado A&M; the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a master’s degree in 1953; the University of Arizona; and the University of Colorado, where he got his PhD in 1967.
He taught at St. Stephen's Episcopal School outside Austin, Texas; Central Missouri State University, now University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg; Southwest Missouri State University, now Missouri State University; Drury University, both of Springfield; ACC in Austin, Texas; and Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar.
He was a member of the Texas Archeology Society, Missouri Native Plant Society, past president of the Missouri Folklore Society, Missouri Mycological Society, and many other organizations. He attended the Friends Meeting of Austin, Texas.
Peter was an anthropologist and enjoyed archeology. He was a great writer, poet, father, stepfather, teacher, friend, husband, lover of plants and animals, dogs, Sacred Harp singing, farming, fly fishing, libraries, parks, peace, bluegrass, folk music, canoeing, amateur wrestling, traveling, rocks, people and books.
He is survived by his wife, Belia Nichols of Austin, Texas; children Tad Nichols and wife Shirley of Austin, Texas, Jeb Loy Nichols and wife Lorraine of Wales, UK and Thayer Nichols (Bill Huffhines) of Mt. Vernon; stepchildren, John Greek of New York City, N.Y., Laura Greek-Clark and husband Chuck of San Marcos, Texas and William Greek and wife Martee of Tampa, Fla.; grandchildren, Will, Eli and Evan; a niece, Lynn Galvas and husband Pat of Great Falls, Montana; and extended family and friends
