Mr. Harvey Nicholson
Peacefully at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, on Friday January 31st, 2020, Mr. Harvey Nicholson of Chatham in his 94th year. Cherished son of the late Carl and Carman Nicholson. Beloved husband of the late Shirley (nee Nicholson). Loving father of Rod and his wife Jan of Port Stanley, Wendy Pretty and her husband Al of Port Stanley, Nancy Chung of Chatham, Richard and his wife Carole of Pender Island, B.C., Karen Nichol & her husband John of Blenheim, and Mike and his wife Lori of Chatham. He will be lovingly remembered by his fourteen grandchildren, and twenty-four great grandchildren. Dear brother of Clarence and Betty Nicholson of Chatham, and predeceased by his siblings Francis Nicholson, Ida Trimble, Doris Jones, Stanley Nicholson, and Inez Shaw. Harvey always led an active life. He played baseball for the Detroit Tiger organization in Jamestown, New York before deciding to marry and move to St. Thomas where he became a turkey farmer and raise 6 children. While in St. Thomas he got his pilot’s license and owned his own plane. During this time, he was also an avid golfer and played Intercounty baseball as well as fastball. Harvey would later move to Chatham where he owned the Red Barn restaurant after which he became a partner in Agri-Urban Buildings Inc. Needing more adventure in his life he bought a 27-foot C&C sailboat and in 1983, Harvey and Shirley sailed to the Caribbean where they stayed for a year. Their next adventures came while traveling across Canada and the U.S. in their Roadtrek RV. Harvey loved to sing and enjoyed being a member of the Chatham Kordsmen, however still needing to keep active, around this time Harvey took up Horseshoes and competed at World’s two years in a row. At the age of 75 Harvey bought a Honda Goldwing motorcycle. This was the first of numerous motorcycles he owned. He and Shirley enjoyed many fun trips including one to B.C. with their dog, Ginger, riding on the back of the motorcycle. When Harvey discovered the sport of pickleball at the age of 83, there was no turning back. He continued to actively enjoy pickleball until the age of 92 as a member of the Chatham Pickleball Club where he is fondly remembered as ‘The Commissioner’. Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held a later date. Arrangements entrusted to the Alexander & Houle Funeral Home 245 Wellington St W. Chatham, Ontario, 519-352-2710. Friends planning an expression of remembrance are asked to consider A.L.L. for Kids Program and London Health Sciences Foundation-“Prostate Cancer Research. On-line condolences may be left at www.alexanderfuneralhome.ca
Private Family Service: Will be held at a later date.
Expression of Remembrance: A.L.L. for Kids Program and London Health Sciences Foundation-“Prostate Cancer Research
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Harvey Nicholson 2020..
alexander funeral home
Death notice for the town of: Chatham, Province: Ontario
We will miss you on the courts and at Timmies.
Nancy and Wendy, we are so sorry for your loss. Harvey was a great man. He was fair and kind to everyone and always had a ready smile. We will miss him at Pickleball. We loved him like family.
Bob and Brenda
Harvey was an inspiration for everyone who were fortunate to know him . Positive memories shall live on. Sympathies for Nancy, Wendy and family.
In the unique capacity I got to know Mr Nicholson, I felt fortunate to meet a man that clearly lived life with vigour and a great sense of humour (not to mention and undying passion for pickleball). He definitely put a smile on my face whenever I saw him. Condolences to the family.