Jon Nichols

Jon Marshall Nichols was born August 30, 1962 in Astoria, Oregon to Joe and Jacquie Nichols, the second of two children. He was taken from us way too soon on Sunday morning November 10, 2024 on a mountainside in Halfway, Oregon.  

Jon spent his childhood growing up and attending school in Warrenton, graduating high school in 1980, but not before becoming a champion pole vaulter. Jon bought his Grandmother's house on Alder Creek and built that small house up into a much larger home with a mechanics shop.  In 2020, he moved to Halfway and created PicNic Ranch, which is a beautiful work in progress.

He learned a fondness for hunting and fishing at a young age by going on the annual Eastern Oregon hunts with his parents, along with the group of people from Warrenton, before he could even walk (actually he was six weeks old).  He added trapping into the mix, spending many nights trudging through the swamps with his cousin, Dean Foster and friends.

Jon had a few different jobs in his adulthood, most recently Pine Valley Ranch where he spent the fall season as a big game hunting guide, often finishing with a cast and blast, a favorite of his clients. Prior to that he worked mostly as a mechanical engineer at Pacific Fab and Pacific Seafoods. 

His real passion was fabricating aluminum boats with his exceptional welding skills.  Over the years he made over 70 custom boats. He spent the last two years building and outfitting Finn-Addict, his 31' aluminum masterpiece. 

There were some wonderful adventures in Jon's life and most of them were around hunting and fishing.  In 2019, Kimberly drew a premium mule deer tag, that hunt meant the world to Jon, he was so proud of her and talked about it every opportunity given. In 2022, he and his wife, Chynna, went on an African Safari, there was a hunt in New Zealand, a few hunts in Sonora, Mexico, and Utah, which lead to an article in the Western Shooting Journal (The Six-Point Take Down, Jan. 2013).   The fishing adventures are too numerous to mention.

Jon had other talents than hunting, fishing, and trapping. Those closest to him feel he is the 'jack of all trades, master of some'.  We could depend on him to problem solve our most perplexing issues.  He was a Jeopardy armchair champion.  He had a Doctorate Level of Knowledge in everything Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner.  In his younger days he was a motocross and quad champion, sporting the #714 (which he kept close to his heart for the entirety of his life).  He crewed on a boat through the Panama Canal from Louisiana to Oregon. He fashioned Christmas and lawn ornaments for family and friends. We could go on and on...

If you had the honor to get to know Jon, you know he had a big soft heart and deeply loved his family and friends. He leaves behind countless broken-hearted people who will do their best to carry on without him in their lives.   Jon leaves behind his wife of just four months, Chynna; daughters, Kimberly (Ryan) Palek and Sarah (Davyn) Owen; two darling granddaughters, Charlie Rae and Callie Mae Palek; his mother, Jacquie  - Finn Nichols; and his sister, JoLynn (Henry) Cagle ; nephew and niece, Jared and Kristina Harp and their children, not to mention all the kids he took under his wing. It wouldn't be right not to mention he also leaves behind two yellow dogs, Toby Keith and Ruby Doo. His father, Joe, preceded him in death eight years ago.   There are aunts, uncles, and cousins who all were very close to Jon throughout his life.   His friends (Team) list is deep and strong.

There will be two Celebration of Life events for Jon - one in Halfway, Saturday, November 16 and the other at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds Event Center, Saturday, November 23 at 4 p.m..  In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to your favorite charity in Jon's name. Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com