February 6, 1948 – May 10, 2025
Charles Roland “Chuck” Nichols passed away peacefully at home on Saturday May 10, 2025, surrounded by loving family.
Chuck was born to Nancy (Stanshaw) Nichols and Vernon Nichols on February 06, 1948 at Siskiyou General Hospital in Yreka. Some of his childhood was spent in Hoopa attending school and working in his stepdad’s TV repair shop; there he learned a very strong work ethic and a developed a propensity for working on anything mechanical. At a young age, Chuck also began a lifetime love of classic cars. He spoke of fond memories spending weekends at his grandparents’ house in Forks of Salmon, eating sourdough pancakes from his Grandma and swimming in the river.
Chuck attended his senior year of high school in Etna before going into the Army in December 1968. He spent time in Fort Lewis, Washington, Fort Ord, California and then shipped off to the Vietnam War. While in Vietnam, he worked as a mechanic and wrecker operator, spending most of his enlisted time outside of Saigon. After his tour of duty in Vietnam, Chuck was stationed in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. There, he met and married Barbara Clark, and together they welcomed two daughters, Leslee and Kimberly. He was honorably discharged from the US Army in November 1971 and was always proud of his service to our country.
He returned to Forks of Salmon and in April 1984 he started a relationship with Margaret “Muggs” McBroom. That same year he started driving logging truck for David Richardson, and loved every minute of it. One of the highlights that he always spoke fondly of, was hauling logs for Wayne Cornwell. In December 1987 he and Muggs were married in a small ceremony in Eureka, MT. Together, Muggs and Chuck welcomed two daughters, Amber and Boston.
Chuck was passionate about truck driving, going on to work other jobs involving trucks and equipment. After driving logging truck, Chuck worked for Croman Corp. as a water truck driver, chasing the helicopter to logging jobs around the Pacific North West. He worked for J.F. Shea, then Bob Driskell paving Interstate 5 and Callahan Mountain, then went to work for the Johnsons in Scott Valley. Chuck finished out his career working as a sub-foreman for the Siskiyou County Road Department in Forks of Salmon.
On the job, Chuck was known for his outstanding work ethic and sense of humor. He loved having fun at work, but took his job to heart. He was a great mechanic; he could fix almost anything, even if he had to use a little ingenuity. He shared that mechanical expertise (along with his own brand of ingenuity) with his girls, always taking the time to teach them, even if he got a little impatient along the way. Chuck loved adding aftermarket lights to all of his vehicles, both work and personal. This nearly always entailed its own wiring system, complete with a random mismatched switch mounted on the dash, and an obligation to remember to turn it off so as not to drain the battery. He was always very particular about keeping his trucks washed (the right way), waxed and mechanically sound.
At 69 years old, and after 34 years of driving truck, Chuck retired.
Chuck loved hunting, camping, and packing into the high mountain lakes of Siskiyou County. Most of his free time was spent with his family. His love of classic cars persisted throughout his life; he could always tell you the particulars of a car with just a glance, specifically the stock engine and probably a story to go along with it.
Chuck was a great man, brother, friend, husband and father and he will be forever loved and missed. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Chuck was preceded in death by his brother Vernon Eugene “Nick” Nichols Jr., his mother Nancy Allen Bennett, father Vernon Eugene Nichols Sr., stepdad Leon Miller Allen, and granddaughter Heather Leann Johnston.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Margaret “Muggs” Nichols, his daughters Leslee (Dean) Mayfield of Atlanta, TX, Kimberly (Matthew) Anderson of Texarkana, TX, Amber (Isaac) Nichols of Yreka/Forks of Salmon, CA, and Boston (John) Camden of Cheyenne, WY. He leaves behind one granddaughter, Madeleine Lanphier of Houston, TX, and six siblings; Ann (Andy) McBroom, Mike (Sylvia) Nichols, Elizabeth (Jim) Salmon, Ina Weigel, Jessie Allen, Nancy (Tom) Stokesberry, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Graveside services will be held in Forks of Salmon at the Family Cemetery on Picayune Road on Saturday June 21st at 1:00pm, followed by a reception at the Beer Tree Flat. A Celebration of Life announcement with additional details will be made available by the family.
sourced- Girdner Funeral Chapel
