Kenneth Nichols

Kenneth Raymond Nichols, 79, of Sanford, passed away peacefully at the River Ridge Center in Kennebunk on May 17, 2013.Ken was born in Springvale, Maine on June 8, 1933 to Ellsworth (Doc) and Gladys (Young) Nichols, one of eleven children. He grew up in Springvale where he attended local schools, graduating from Sanford High School in 1953. Following high school Ken entered the U.S. Army. He attended basic training in Fort Dix, New Jersey and the Signal Corp School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He was stationed in Japan where he proudly served during the Korean Conflict, receiving various medals. Ken returned to Sanford when he left the military in 1955. In January 1956 he married his high school sweetheart Rita S. Ferland. Together they shared 57 years of marriage and raised five children.Ken was employed as a typesetter for the Sanford Tribune for 18 years. After leaving the Tribune he worked for American Cyanamid for a short time. He went on to work at Sprague Electric where he was employed for over 20 years until his retirement. Ken was a very hard worker. He built his own home, maintained his properties in both Sanford and Florida and completed other various projects. He enjoyed hunting, trail riding, tennis, softball and playing the piano. Ken was an awesome grandfather to all his grandchildren who he loved, worked and played with. He had many friends locally and in Barefoot Bay, Florida who he enjoyed joking and visiting with. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Ken was predeceased by his parents, by five brothers, Wallace, Arthur, Harold, Donald and Roger and by a granddaughter, Trista Lynn Nichols.Surviving are his wife Rita Nichols of Sanford; five children and their families, Catherine Sevigny and her husband Mark of Springvale, Stephen Nichols and his wife Robin of Epsom, New Hampshire, Gary Nichols of Sanford, Brenda Chaisson of Sanford and Alan Nichols and his companion Sheila Patch of Sanford; grandchildren, Dr. Christopher Sevigny, DVM and his companion Dr. Nicole Craft, DVM, Cody Nichols, Kelsey Wells, Meaghan Wells, Morgan Nichols, Jenna Nichols, Mikel Bower, Nicole Reza, Alden Chaisson, Jimmie Chaisson, Travis Chaisson, Corey Chaisson, Alley Nichols and Alan Nichols, Jr. and two great-grandchildren, Zooey and Natalie; five sisters, Arlene Martineau of Springvale, Marilyn Dufault of Waterloo, New York, Lois Levesque, Shirley Pelletier and Betty Drouin, all of Sanford and many nieces and nephews.Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 21st at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home located at 580 Main Street in Springvale. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 10:00 on Wednesday, May 22nd. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Sanford.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Alzheimer's Association, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, Maine 04074.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.