Tom Nichols

Ava, Missouri

Thomas O. “Tom” Nichols was born August 15, 1941, in Hartville, Missouri. He grew up alongside his siblings on the family farm near Mansfield, where he developed an enduring appreciation for hard work, family, community, rural lifestyles, and the opportunities that education could provide.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, O. F. and Kathryn Nichols. He was also preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Virgil and Mae Cox and sister-in-law, Glenda Nichols. He is survived by his sister, Maribeth Seaman (Dan), and brother Ted Nichols, as well as many nieces, cousins, and nephews, always remained important in his life and are among the family he dearly loves.

Tom first attended a one-room schoolhouse where his mother taught; he survived polio at age 9, leaving him with a lifelong appreciation for the medical community. He graduated from Mansfield High School. His life was also shaped by rural electric cooperatives, whose arrival transformed life on the farm. Electricity allowed Tom’s family to modernize their barn into a Grade A dairy operation, creating economic opportunities that made Tom's college education possible. He would carry that lesson throughout his life, believing that when rural communities have fair access to resources and opportunities, people can accomplish great things.

Tom attended Southwest Missouri State University and began a career in public education that would span more than four decades. He taught at Springfield Central High School, Cassville, Forsyth, and Ava before moving into educational administration as principal at Forsyth. He remained committed to education, pursuing his Ed.S. at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and later, doctoral work at Mizzou. He served as superintendent at Forsyth, Mtn Grove, and Ava. During this time, Tom helped lead an initiative that challenged how the Missouri legislature distributed state education funds. He collaborated with others in the field to demand financial reforms, helping make the state funding formula equitable to rural schools as well as urban schools. His belief that a child's educational future should not be determined by the size or wealth of the community where the child resides was a cornerstone of his professional work. He ended his career as a state supervisor for DESE, visiting schools to facilitate the accreditation process.

Tom was a devoted father to Mary Kay (Roger)Robinson, Jean Ann Nichols, and Jim (Chris) Nichols. He married Barbara Pitts and later married Donna Hall in 1997, adding two more children, Tim Hall and Lisa Johnson, to his family. He was a very beloved grandfather to Ben, James (Annalee), Isaac, Joseph, Abi Kate, and Levi Robinson; Arianna Cross (Connor), April Kinard (Austin), Aaron Schuerger, Barrett, Melia, and Rowan Nichols, Lauren Hall, Hunter Hall, Stephen Johnson (Jennifer), and Jesse Johnson. Tom has eight great-grandchildren: Beckham, Margie, Wesley Robinson, Henry Schuerger, Frankie Johnson, and Willow, Jacie, and Lydia Johnson. He remained a devoted baseball fan; his love of the game was shared with his family, providing years of cherished memories. He enjoyed sporting events and took particular pleasure in the accomplishments and activities of his children, grands, and great-grands. Tom enjoyed horseback/trail riding, hunting (especially elk in Colorado), travel, and outdoor activities of all kinds, especially those involving boating, water, or fishing. Tom knew no strangers, had a wonderful sense of humor, and a problem-solving wisdom that will be missed by so many in his life.

Funeral services for Tom will be Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Homes, Inc., Ava, Missouri. Visitation will be Saturday from 1:00 PM to service time. Burial will be in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery. Officiating will be Pastor James Hathcock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Destination Church Building Fund or Mt. Tabor Cemetery.