Andrew Kenneth Nicholson

Andrew Kenneth ""Mr. Nick"" Nicholson, 87, a member of the Greatest Generation, died peacefully in his last earthly home, A Connected Heart, in Gulfport on October 30, 2013, eight months after suffering a stroke at his long-time family business, Deluxe Cleaners in Gulfport.
He was born October 13, 1926, to Grady and Eula Laird Nicholson in Newton County, Mississippi. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Holcomb, Shelby, Bruce, Frank, and Bobby Nicholson, and sisters Odessa Wooten and Bessie Buntyn. He is survived by his brother, James H. Nicholson of Newton County, and sister, Dorothy Mowdy of Sebastopol, Mississippi.
""AND HE BOWED HIS HEAD TO JESUS"" Ken accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized as a young boy, and served Him faithfully for over 60 years in Handsboro Baptist Church, Gulfport. He had taught Sunday School, sung in the choir, served on numerous pulpit and building committees, was an ordained deacon, and an enthusiastic greeter as members and visitors arrived at church on Sunday mornings.
''AND HE STOOD FOR UNCLE SAM"" Ken served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946 and was stationed in occupied Japan in the aftermath of World War II.
""AND HE ONLY LOVED ONE WOMAN"" He was married to his sweetheart, Viola Howle Nicholson, for 58 years until they were separated by her death in October 2004. Her sister introduced Ken to Viola when he was working with her husband at his dry-cleaning business in Union, Mississippi. They dated until he went into the Army in 1944 and corresponded during the war. When he was discharged he returned to her, and they married in Neshoba County, Mississippi, on November 22, 1946.
""HE WAS ALWAYS PROUD OF WHAT HE HAD"" Kenneth learned the dry-cleaning business in the late 1940s. From the time he and Viola moved to the Coast in 1947 until 1962, he learned as much as he could working at French's Cleaners, Tucker's Cleaners, and Gates Cleaners. In 1962 he and J.C. Heflin, his dear friend from Newton County, (who had also served as best man when he and Viola married), bought Deluxe Cleaners on Courthouse Road in Gulfport. Together with J.C.'s wife, Opal, they built a successful business. He retired in 1988 after selling his share of the business to his son-in-law Tom Nave, but remained active at the cleaners until the day he suffered a stroke while sorting clothes in the same work space he'd occupied for over 50 years. He remained close to J.C. and Opal, stopping by their house on his daily neighborhood walks, until J.C.'s death in 2006 and Opal's in 2011.
""HE SAID HIS GREATEST CONTRIBUTION IS THE ONES HE'll LEAVE BEHIND"" Ken is survived by his daughters, Sherry Nave and her husband Thomas Nave, and Debbie Nicholson; grandsons Chris Loposser and his wife Candice, and Jonathan Nave and his wife Jennifer; and greatgrandchildren Tyler Mason Loposser, Kate Riley Loposser, Christian Thomas Nave, and Peyton Amelia Nave, who was born the day he fell ill, all of Gulfport...""RAISED ON THE WAYS AND GENTLE KINDNESS OF A SMALL TOWN SOUTHERN MAN.""
The Nicholson family is grateful to recording artist Alan Jackson for allowing his ""Small Town Southern Man"" lyrics to be part of Ken's obituary. During his illness the family was encouraged by the care he received at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport and its rehabilitation complex, Boyington Nursing Facility, and Lakeview Nursing Center. The compassionate care of Greg Sullivan and his staff at A Connected Heart and also Pinnacle Hospice filled Ken's final months with the comfort of home, delicious food, laughter, companionship, and dignity, and offered a welcoming embrace for family and friends who visited him there.
On Saturday, November 9, 2013, there will be a celebration of Ken's life at 11:00 at Handsboro Baptist Church, 1421 East Pass Road, Gulfport, with a time of visitation beginning at 9:00. Burial will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Gulfport assisted the family and an online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com.
Memorial donations may be made in memory of Kenneth Nicholson to Handsboro Baptist Church, 1421 East Pass Road, Gulfport, Mississippi, 39507.