WILLIAM THAYER NICHOLS

WESTFORD, Vt. – William Thayer Nichols, 71, died Feb. 6, 2007, in Ellsworth. Will was born April 7, 1935, in New York, the son of Francis Tilden Nichols and Louise Thayer Nichols. Will grew up in Muttontown, N.Y., and attended the University of Vermont, where he received his Bachelor of Science in botany. After graduation he settled down in Westford, Vt., where he raised his family and pursued his many interests and loves; farming his land, raising angus cattle, trucking, playing music, sailing, sugaring, skiing, traveling, scuba diving and raising his four children. During his life he was president and owner of the L.D. Oliver Seed Co., Milton, Vt.; the Depot Home and Garden, Essex Junction; and Depot Farm Supply, Leicester, Vt.; and served on the board of directors of the Atlantic Seedmen Association. He was an active community member and on several occasions helped to organize the Westford Fourth of July celebration, which included fireworks, a live band and chicken barbecue. He and his naval regiment also carried out the initial restoration of the 1835 Westford Covered Bridge in the 1980s. Will also continued the charitable work of his father through the Nichols Foundation, which makes annual contributions to different charitable and non-profit organizations. Will proudly served in the Naval Reserve for a span of four decades and completed 27 years of service before retiring in 1994. During his career he achieved the rank of chief petty officer and was recognized for outstanding services numerous times; in 1988 he received a Navy Achievement Medal and was awarded Seabee of the Year – Reserve Naval Construction Regiment 27. His superiors referred to him as the backbone of his regiment, a chief’s chief, and the embodiment of the Seabee’s “can do” philosophy. Even after his retirement, he continued to stay involved in the Navy and volunteered his time to support his colleagues who were still serving. Will also maintained a strong presence in Brooklin, where he spent childhood summers with his grandparents and where his parents lived most of his adult life. Bringing his family regularly to Brooklin, he was able to pass on his love of the ocean, sailing, lobster and the Maine seacoast to his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered for his strong dedication to his family and his love of life. His wife, sister, children and grandchildren will miss him dearly. Will is survived by his wife, Peg; his sister, Sarah Gruenig; his four children, Sharon Koller, Sue Thibault, Nick Nichols and Jeff Nichols; as well as, nine grandchildren. A celebration of Will’s life will be held 1 p.m. Friday, March 2, at the Red Brick Church Meeting House, Westford, Vt. A private interment will occur at a later date at the Nichols family plot in Brooklin. Memorial contributions in his memory may be sent to the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Suite 123, Washington D.C. 20004-2608. Arrangements by Memorial Alternatives, 205 Center St., Bangor.