Paul Dean Nickell

September 25, 1935 - November 28, 2015
Paul Dean Nickell

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Paul D Nickell, 80, passed away peacefully at home Saturday, November 28, 2015. Born in Alton, Illinois he was the son of the late John and Nora Nickell of Edwardsville, Illinois.

After graduation from Erskine College in 1956, Paul was recruited by the Milwaukee Braves, Pittsburg Pirates, and Detroit Tiger organizations. Signing a Triple A contract with the Tigers, he played parts of two seasons with the Durham Bulls. After leaving professional baseball, he coached baseball at East High, bringing that school its first conference championship in any sport in 1969. In the spring of 2015 his former players invited him to dinner and an East High baseball home game where they presented the school with a trophy to replace the missing one. In the mid-70’s he purchased Brookwood Golf Club in Arden which he operated for over twenty five years.

In 1999 Paul was inducted into the Erskine College Flying Fleet Hall of Fame and the Citation includes the following: “Nickell, as an outfielder, hit .477 during his junior year in 1955, setting a modern single-season record that would stand for 14 years. It is still today the fourth-highest average ever compiled by an Erskine batter and is the second highest with a wooden bat. His senior year he was the number one pitcher and hitter for the Fleet, leading the team in home runs, batting average, and strikeouts. He served as president of the Erskine student body, a responsibility he handled with distinction.”

Paul was a member of First United Methodist Church and in the 1960’s and 70’s served as an usher and was a member of the Pastor/Parish Committee.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years this December 17, the former Sara Lee Allen; three sons, Gregory, Philip, and Andrew; and three grandchildren, Sara, Elijah, and Noah.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 am Saturday, December 5, 2015 in the Kirby Memorial Chapel of Shuler Funeral Home with the Reverend Steve Jones, Hospice chaplain, officiating. Following the service, the family will receive friends at the home in Hickory Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731, or the Erskine College Flying Fleet Athletic Organization, PO Box 338, Due West, SC 29639.


Service

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Kirby Memorial Chapel of Shuler Funeral Home - Directions
125 Orrs Camp Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792

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  • December 01, 2015
    Leone Alexander says:
    Sara Lee and family, We are saddened to read about Paul's death. We offer our condolences to all of you during this time of loss and pray for your comfort and peace. Sincerely, Leone and Paul Alexander

  • December 02, 2015
    Shane Bradley lit a candle:
    Lit since December 2, 2015 at 12:28:31 AM

  • December 02, 2015
    Carole Clark says:
    Loving memories of a fine man. Condolences to the Nickell family, especially Sara. Love to you all, Carole

  • December 02, 2015
    Tom and Kay Williams says:
    SaraLee, Greg, Phil and Andrew, We want to express our deepest sympathy to your family. May God grant you comfort, peace and strength for each day. Your family has been very special to us over the years. We will always have many fond memories of these times. Tom and Kay Williams

  • December 03, 2015
    Carson Calton says:
    What a wonderful and full life he lived! Thoughts and prayers to all the family.

  • December 03, 2015
    Bill Case says:
    We have fond memories of Coach Nickell from our years at EHHS. Our deepest sympathies to his family. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

  • December 03, 2015
    Betsy Copolillo says:
    Dear Mrs. Nickell, My sincerest sympathies to you and your family. You and Mr. Nickell meant a lot to me. You both were very good roll models for me. You are in my prayers. Betsy

  • December 03, 2015
    Sharon & Tommy King says:
    So sorry for your loss. Mr. Nickel was a great teacher and coach at East High. Our thoughts and prayers to the family. Sharon&Tommy King Class of 69/70

  • December 03, 2015
    BARBARA STEPP MONTEITH says:
    So sorry to hear about the passing of Paul nickel. he was my history teacher at East High . I was in the CLASS OF 1967. HE WAS A GREAT TEACHER.

  • December 03, 2015
    Pete Johnson says:
    Mrs. Nickell & Family, We are sincerely saddened by the loss of Coach Nickell. He will always be one of my most remembered teachers and coaches. Remembering in baseball when we made an error, made a bad throw, or took a third ball strike, he would talk in a way that would build us up instead of breaking us down. It would make us want to be better next time. His coaching demeanor was something that I've tried to emulate as a high school basketball coach. He would never scream or belittle us and this is something I've tried to do on and off the playing field. I thank Coach Nickell for several life lessons ! Sincerely, Pete & Judy Johnson P.S. Mrs. Nickell, do you have those size 18 sneakers?

  • December 04, 2015
    Buddy Roper lit a candle:
    Lit since December 4, 2015 at 12:11:50 AM

  • December 04, 2015
    Dave and Sybil Eberharr says:
    Lee and family, So sorry to hear of P.D's passing. We have not been in touch in many years and we are sorry for that. He is my cousin from Edwardsville, IL. I remember watching him play baseball in the area and following his pro baseball carreer. He was a great guy and we had many good times together. Glad to hear that he was a believer in our Lord Jesus and that we will be together again in Heaven in the future. God bless and strengthen adn comfort all of you at this time of loss.

  • December 05, 2015
    Mike Harness says:
    Dear Ms. Nickell, my heartfelt condolences on Coach's passing to you and family. My memories of him as coach, and you as that fantastic English teacher, will always be with me. He was my JV basketball coach and he taught me how to drive. On our first outing in the driver's ed car, he told me to get on I-26, drive to Asheville, and parallel park it on Patton Avenue! A tall order for a novice! On the interstate, I let the speed creep up a little over 70. He had his left arm stretch across the top of the seat. When I hit 75, he gently put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Let's try to keep it under the speed limit." This simple communication corrected me, but it also imbued a scared 15 year with a lot of confidence. I call that teaching, and that was his greatness. How blessed all of us at East High were to have you both for teachers. You are in my prayers.

  • December 05, 2015
    Nancy Harberson says:
    Dear Sara Lee, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I have such wonderful memories of being part of your and Paul's wedding. I still have several pictures. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Take care and much love. Nancy