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Nichols -- Thomas Arthur"Tom" Nichols, age 93, passed away January 17, 2003 at the Guadalupe County Hospital following an illness. Tom was born March 30, 1909 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to the home of Charles Arthur and Winifred Massey Nichols. After high school graduation Tom attended College in Brian, Texas where he majored in Electrical Engineering. After college he enlisted in the United States Air Force from 1943 thru 1945 as an Engineer. He came to Santa Rosa from Oak Ridge, Tennessee in 1947 and began working for the Southwest Public Service Co. It is there where he met Zulema Serrano. They WERE married on June 3, 1950. Tom worked for the City of Santa Rosa for many years as the Water Department Superintendent retiring on June 30, 1976. He served as the Civil Defense Director for the Santa Rosa area in the 1960's, he was the local weather reporter, an avid Ham Radio Operator and a member of the Santa Rosa Volunteer Fire Department from 1948 until 1988. Tom was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church were he served as Lector, Commentator and Eucharistic Minister for the Hospital and Shut Ins and served as a Prayer Group Leader. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Zulema on September 26, 2002, a brother Ballard Nichols, sister Winifred Morrison and a grandson Robert Ramon Campos. Survivors include two daughters Mary Belle Baros Lucero and husband Samuel of Rio Rancho, NM; Ida Jo Baros Campos and husband Albert of Santa Rosa, Grandchildren Karl Lucero, Paula Dominguez and husband Tim all of Rio Rancho, Pete Campos and wife Lori of Las Vegas, NM, Tommy Campos and wife Barbara, Lettie Chavez and husband Abel, Albert Campos, Jr., and wife Brenda all of Santa Rosa,� nephews Gordon Nichols and wife Donna of Florida, Bruce Morrison and wife Jane of Nebraska; nieces Shirley Scholl of Texas and Betty Duncan and husband Alan of La Porte, TX. Also surviving are 17 Great- � grandchildren; 1 great grandchild, his brothers and sister in laws Adolfo Serrano of Santa Rosa, Simon Serrano, Jr., and wife Pita of Albuquerque, Luis Serrano and wife Dulce of Santa Rosa, Zolio Serrano and wife Vickie of Albuquerque, Robert Serrano of Santa Rosa, Charles Serrano and wife Angie of Santa Rosa and Alice Romo of Dallas, TX, numerous nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, January 18, 2003 at 10:00 A.M. from St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Santa Rosa, NM with Father Stephen Schultz, Celebrant of the Mass. Burial of Cremains will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Santa Rosa. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be his Co-Workers from the Santa Rosa Water Department, Ernestine Gutierrez, Bill Capps, Joe Pino, Ventura Lopez, Carlos Gutierrez, Gerald Anaya, Fernando Chacon, and longtime Water Department Board Members Johnny Martinez and Adolfo Serrano as well as his grandchildren and Great-grandchildren. All services are entrusted to Chavez Funeral Home, 923 South 3rd St. Santa Rosa, NM (505) 472-3369.
        Published on: Sun January 19, 2003