Frank Nicholson, 86, a longtime resident of Lyman, passed away at his home on Monday May 5, 2003. He was born at Cullowhee, North Carolina on February 4, 1917, the youngest of 5 sons of John Lawrence and Lizzie Wiggins Nicholson, followed later by 1 sister. In school at Cullowhee, he was a star athlete and had the distinction of playing with the Western Carolina College football team while still in high school.
Frank was one of the last of the old-time bushelers who fell and bucked timber with hand saws. The family came to Washington in the 30’s following the logging industry and Frank worked for a number of logging companies, mainly Lyman Timber Company which became Soundview Pulp and then Scott Paper Company. During slack times locally, he cut timber at Neah Bay, WA, Oregon and Alaska. During the depression he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, serving on Orcas Island and then was sent to McKinley Denali National Park where he and his companions built their own board and tent camp in sub-zero winter weather. Leaving the CCC, he worked briefly on the Alaska Railroad and then spent a winter on a remote trapline out of Nenana, Alaska.
He served more than 4 years in the military during WWII, mainly with the 8th Air Force in the European Theater, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. In January, 1943, while on a brief leave, he and Patricia Healey were married in Sedro-Woolley and shortly after the war they built their home on Childs Creek near Lyman where they raised their two daughters.
After leaving logging, Frank worked at power line construction, made brake bands for heavy equipment at Skagit Steel & Iron Works and finished his working days with the Sedro-Woolley Street Department.
He was a real outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, hiking and he climbed many of the Cascade peaks. He served for several years with the volunteer Skagit Mountain Rescue Unit. He always knew where the trout were biting and where the mushrooms, watercress, and little wild blackberries could be found. He enjoyed cutting wood, raising a huge garden and loved spending time at the family cabin near Mazama in Okanogan County. He enjoyed telling stories of the days when he clung to the Skagit cliffs falling the timber where the abutments of Ross Dam were built. He also helped build the silos at Concrete and later helped build the power lines from the Upper Baker Dam as well as the Bonneville lines from the Canadian border to Arlington.
He was a longtime member of United Lodge #93 F. & A. M. and the George Baldridge Post #43 American Legion of Sedro-Woolley.
He is survived by Patricia, his wife of 60 years at the family home near Lyman. 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Kathleen and Stuart Earnst and Denise Nicholson and Ronald Spellman, all of rural Sedro-Woolley. 1 grandson, Ken Earnst of California, 1 granddaughter, Janet Earnst, of Bellevue. And twin great-grandchildren, Kenny and Terri Earnst of California. 1 brother and sister-in-law, Hillard and Gertie Nicholson of Sedro-Woolley, 2 sisters-in-law, Margaret Nicholson of Sedro-Woolley and Grace Nicholson of Oregon, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Fred, Oscar, and Dillard, and his sister, Liz Jackson. The family suggests memorials be made to; Friends of the Sedro-Woolley Library, 802 Ball St. Sedro-Woolley or Concerned Citizens of Hospital District #304. PO Box 518, Sedro-Woolley.
Graveside services will be held Saturday May 10, 2003 at 2:00 PM at the Lyman Cemetery. Members of the Burlington United Lodge #93 F. & A. M. officiating with members of the George Baldridge Post #43 American Legion providing the flag presentation. A fellowship will follow services at the Lyman Town Hall. Services under direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share thoughts and memories of Frank and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com