Otha "Jackie" Earl Nickels, Jr.

Otha Earl Nickels, Jr. “Jackie” was born on September 22, 1946 in Mexia and passed away on February 3, 2025 at his home in Shiloh under the care of his family.

Jackie spent his childhood years growing up and playing with cousins on his grandparents farm in Lost Prairie. Jackie loved to work on things, and had many adventurous jobs in his younger years. He loved to tell stories about the places he worked and what he had done. He had a way of making those things sound interesting and exciting. Jackie will be remembered as a mechanic who could work on most anything and, in many cases, use some unconventional techniques to get things fixed.

Jackie loved all of his family and friends and would do whatever it took to help them out when they were in need. Jackie was a good friend, fantastic father, wonderful grandfather, and devoted husband. He was a "country boy", with a big heart, who happily enjoyed the simple things in life.  He will be dearly missed and forever loved.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home with David Bates officiating.  Interment will follow in the Shiloh Cemetery.  Cody Weathers, Andrew Nickels, David Bates, Michael Rothe, Miles Owen, and Jack Nickels will serve as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearer will be Dwayne Holder.

Visitation with the family will be 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Otha Earl Nickels, Sr. and Mary Frances (Holder) Nickels; brother, James Smith; sister, Linda Smith; and niece, La Juana Lee Thornton O'Hare.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie Nickels; children, Thomas Johnson and wife, Geana Hawk, Kevin Nickels and wife, Jamie, and Joshua Nickels and wife, Crystal Atkinson; grandchildren, Robyn Rothe and husband, Michael, Andrew Nickels and wife, Vanessa, Makenzie Woodall and husband, Brendon, Juniper Nickels, Thomas Johnson, Cody Weathers, Jack Nickels, Jaylee Nickels, Kadyn King; nine great grandchildren; and sister, Mary Ann Thornton and husband, David Dunkin.

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