Halfway

Aug. 30, 1962 — Nov. 10, 2024

Jon Marshall Nichols was born Aug. 30, 1962, in Astoria, to Joe and Jacquie Nichols, the second of two children. He was taken from us way too soon on Nov. 10 on a mountainside in Halfway.

Jon spent his childhood growing up and attending school in Warrenton, graduating from high school in 1980, but not before becoming a champion pole vaulter.

Jon bought his grandmother’s house on Alder Creek, and built that small house up into a much larger home with a mechanics shop. In 2020, he moved to Halfway, and created PicNic Ranch, which is a beautiful work in progress.

He learned a fondness for hunting and fishing at a young age by going on the annual Eastern Oregon hunts with his parents, along with the group of people from Warrenton, before he could even walk (actually he was 6 weeks old). He added trapping into the mix, spending many nights trudging through the swamps with his cousin, Dean Foster, and friends.

Jon had a few different jobs in his adulthood, most recently at Pine Valley Ranch, where he spent the fall season as a big game hunting guide, often finishing with a cast and blast, a favorite of his clients. Prior to that, he worked mostly as a mechanical engineer at Pacific Fabrication and Pacific Seafood.

His real passion was fabricating aluminum boats with his exceptional welding skills. Over the years, he made over 70 custom boats. He spent the last two years building and outfitting Finn-Addict, his 31-foot aluminum masterpiece.

There were some wonderful adventures in Jon’s life, and most of them were around hunting and fishing. In 2019, his daughter, Kimberly, drew a premium mule deer tag, that hunt meant the world to Jon; he was so proud of her, and talked about it every opportunity given.

In 2022, he and his wife, Chynna, went on an African safari, there was a hunt in New Zealand, and a few hunts in Sonora, Mexico and Utah, which lead to an article in the Western Shooting Journal (“The Six-Point Take Down,” January 2013). The fishing adventures are too numerous to mention.

Jon had other talents than hunting, fishing and trapping. Those closest to him feel he is the jack of all trades, master of some. We could depend on him to problem-solve our most perplexing issues. He was a “Jeopardy” armchair champion. He had a doctorate level of knowledge in everything Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny/Road Runner.

In his younger days, he was a motocross and quad champion, sporting the number 714 (which he kept close to his heart for the entirety of his life). He crewed on a boat through the Panama Canal from Louisiana to Oregon. He fashioned Christmas and lawn ornaments for family and friends. We could go on and on …

If you had the honor to get to know Jon, you know he had a big, soft heart, and deeply loved his family and friends. He leaves behind countless broken-hearted people who will do their best to carry on without him in their lives.

Jon leaves behind his wife of just four months, Chynna; daughters, Kimberly (Ryan) Palek and Sarah (Davyn) Owen; two darling granddaughters, Charlie Rae and Callie Mae Palek; his mother, Jacquie Finn Nichols; his sister, JoLynn (Henry) Cagle; nephew and niece, Jared and Kristina Harp, and their children, not to mention all the kids he took under his wing. It wouldn’t be right not to mention he also leaves behind two yellow dogs, Toby Keith and Ruby Doo.

His father, Joe, preceded him in death eight years ago. There are aunts, uncles and cousins who all were very close to Jon throughout his life. His friends (team) list is deep and strong.

A celebration of life event for Jon is being held at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Clatsop County Fair & Expo Center, 92937 Walluski Loop.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to your favorite charity in Jon’s name.

Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home in Halfway was in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.