H.R. No. 1244 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Family and friends will forever treasure their memories of the Reverend Gerald Lee Nichols of Richardson, who died on April 12, 2021, at the age of 87; and WHEREAS, Jerry Nichols was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 25, 1933; he met his future wife, Rose Marie, on a blind date in 1952, and the couple were married a few months later and went on to spend the next 68 years together; they were blessed with two children, Daniel and Danette, and they later welcomed into their family a son-in-law, Joe, and two grandchildren, Elijah and Mackenzie; and WHEREAS, Reverend Nichols earned his master of divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and was ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1960, and he devoted much of his 38-year pastoral career to establishing new churches throughout Texas; even after his retirement in 1998, he continued working with ministries for children and those with disabilities, visiting nursing homes, and helping to start new congregations; in the past eight years, he logged more than 4,200 hours ministering to families as a volunteer chaplain at Methodist Richardson Medical Center, and he and his wife participated for several years in the cross-cultural ministry at Living Water Community Church; and WHEREAS, Engaged in political and civic affairs as well, Reverend Nichols served as a volunteer for his state representative and as a member of the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature; in addition, he was a graduate of Leadership Richardson and a member of his homeowner's association; and WHEREAS, Jerry Nichols lived a rich and purposeful life devoted to his family, his faith, and his community, and those who were privileged to share in this esteemed man's love and friendship will always remember him with admiration and affection; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Reverend Gerald Lee Nichols and extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn his passing; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jerry Nichols. Button ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1244 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 23, 2021. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House