David Asay Nicholls

Dec. 14, 1924 – Oct. 22, 2024

David Asay Nicholls, 99, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, at home with his family. 

David was born December 14, 1924, in Lovell the seventh of 11 children. He was the son of Arthur Davies Nicholls and Phoebe Hatch Asay. 

Dave was raised on the family farm in Lovell and graduated from Lovell High School. He was a Marine in WWII and served in the South Pacific on the USS Montpellier and the USS Fargo. 

He met Marlene Cannon in Worland in 1947, and they married in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 29, 1949. Dave and Marlene had eight children. 

He returned to serve his country with the Wyoming National Guard in the Army in Korea, where he served with the famed 300th Artillery Cowboy Cannoneers. 

Dave was a pilot for Colorado Interstate Gas for 19 years where he flew the pipelines, flying into Alaska. The family returned to Wyoming in 1976 where Dave built his own home on 45 acres outside of Lander. 

He was a hard worker and worked many jobs over his lifetime. He taught all his children to be hard workers. His family says he was a beekeeper and an accomplished gardener and always had a large garden. He enjoyed raising sheep and other farm animals, who were always well cared for. He was a great neighbor and friend but was happiest when he was around children. 

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his whole life and loved serving others. He and Marlene served three missions. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, all his brothers and sisters, son Brent Nicholls and daughter Kristi Nicholls.

He is survived by his children, Beckie (Wayne) Johnson, Scott (Becky) Nicholls, Dennis (Nanette) Nicholls, Kirk (Renee) Nicholls, Tricia (Randy) Lichty and Ora (James) Peden;  40 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren. 

A visitation will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Haskell Funeral Home, followed by the service at 10 at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the Lovell Cemetery.