Roy Nicholls

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Roy Clayton “Skip” Nicholls Jr., age 75, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2022. He was 3 days shy of his 76th birthday.

Born October 18, 1946 at McCune Brooks Hospital in Carthage, MO to the late Roy Clayton and Dorothy Elizabeth (Buckley) Nicholls, he attended Joplin schools, graduating from Joplin High School in 1964. He attended Jasper County Junior College (now MSSU) from 1964-1966. He transferred to KU and attended from 1966-1970, studying architecture. 

He was drafted into the Army and served from 1970-1972. He returned to KU in the spring of 1972. He worked at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois from 1972-1976, taking night classes and graduating in 1976 from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville with a degree in History. 

From 1976-1979 he worked for the Air Force in England as a Supervising, Staffing and Employee relations specialist. He returned to Joplin in 1981 and began working for LaBarge, now Ducommun, starting as a hot molder, then inspector and finally lead inspector. His knowledge in the elements of his job were highly regarded, as was evident by the many visitors who came to visit him in his last days. He was an active member of the Teamsters Union and was a Union steward for 13 years. He retired from Ducommun in 2016 after 35 years.

Roy enjoyed sports, specifically KU basketball, football, and the KU Relays. He also enjoyed the KC Royals, KC Chiefs, college football and car races. He loved attending his nieces’ sporting events, musicals and Graduations. He also enjoyed rock music, particularly British rock: Jethro Tull and Blind Faith.

He returned to England several times to visit friends and see the sights. During his time abroad he visited every Anglican cathedral in England and all but 1 in Wales. His favorite was Salsbury Cathedral in Salsbury UK. He loved York Minster, Ely Cathedral and Westminster Abbey as well.

A trained storm spotter, he warned his mother and sisters of the impending Joplin tornado on May 22, 2011, urging them to take shelter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Dorothy Nicholls, his brother-in-law Clifford “Sam” Sternes, and on September 6, 2022 his sister Elizabeth “Liz” Sternes.

He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law Jeanne and Cameron Mueller, and their daughters Hannah, Caitlin, Sarah and Megan Mueller, nephew and niece Garrett and Pam Sternes, and their children, Alex, Lauren and Nathan Sternes, dear friends Gary and Mazzie Bartimus of England and their families in the UK and the US, Cindy Smith, Linda Cavener and Ade and Judy Mueller.

The family would also like to thank Dr. Amanda Harrell, Hospice Compassus, Freeman Hospital Infusion Center nurses, Freeman Hospital ER and 2nd floor nurses, Chaplains who visited him in the hospital and at Solace House, former co-workers who visited him at Solace House, and Mona and the wonderful caregivers at Solace House who took such good care of him during his final days.

Donations in Roy’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, Faithful Friends Animal Advocates of Neosho, or Solace House.