David Nichols Obituary

Longtime resident, David Chandler Nichols, was born March 26, 1956 in Dayton, Ohio to Don and Carol Nichols. He passed on January 30, 2023 after a four year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) under the care of Hospice in Edmonds, Washington and surrounded by his wife and daughters. Dave handled his rapidly declining physical deterioration with the same grace and determination that he showed the rest of his life. When very little was left in his life, he found joy with his grandson sitting on his lap trying to rip off his ventilator mask.

Dave graduated from high school in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and earned his BA in Political Science from Williams College in Massachusetts. He met the love of his life, Betty Love, while getting his MA at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Dave and Betty were married in the mountains above Dunton, Colorado in 1982. They spent 35 years on their farm north of Cortez raising their daughters, sheep and trees. He was an active father. The family enjoyed camping and backpacking and especially soccer. He coached both of his daughters' soccer teams for years.

While living in Cortez, Dave was a real estate broker, appraiser and found his passion as one of the founders of the Montezuma Land Conservancy (MLC). He was a Director of MLC for 10 years and was proud of helping conserve 27,000 acres.

After retirement, Dave was able to live his dream sailing/cruising in the winter and camping and hiking in the summer. Dave and Betty spent six winters on the Sea of Cortez and the Mexican Riviera and two winters in the Bahamas.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Love; daughters and sons-in-law, Jessica Love-Nichols and Kunal Arya and grandson, Kian David; Jamie Love-Nichols and Matt Gresko; his mother, Carol; and brothers, Jeff (Susan), Craig (Patti) and Dean (Laura); and nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Montezuma Land Conservancy Legacy Fund.