Gene Nichols

Willard-Garold Gene "Bull Rider" Nichols, 78, passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka. He was born February 6, 1936 in Nowata County, Oklahoma, the son of Arley Elbert and Nora Alice Cooper Nichols. Gene graduated from Nowata High School and served in the United States Army and the Oklahoma National Guard. Gene was a truck driver for many years. In his younger days he was a bull rider, did team roping and was a bulldogger. Everybody on the rodeo circuit and all his truck driving buddies new him as "Bull Rider". He moved to the Rossville/Willard area in 1990. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Iva June Reed; two nephews, Eric Nichols and Charles Arley Moore; a grandson, Dalton Ray McIntyre-Nichols. On August 26, 1989 he was united in marriage to Arletta Sage at Cedar Vale, Kansas. She survives of the home. Other survivors include daughters, Debbie Dunn, Nowata, OK, Sage Nelson, Topeka, Yvonne Church, Minneapolis, KS., Yolande Nichols, Topeka and Heidi Taylor, Las Vegas, NV.; two brothers, Owen Nichols, Sand Spring, OK and Ervin Nichols, Tulsa, OK; a sister Jessie Palone, Nowata, OK; 10 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and several nieces. Graveside services will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 31, 2015 at the Dover Cemetery, Dover, Kansas. Mr. Nichols will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday, January 30, 2015 at Piper Funeral Chapel in Rossville. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice House and sent in care of Piper Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 642, Rossville, Kansas 66533. Online condolences may be sent to www.piperfuneralhome.com