Lee Bowden Nichols

  Lee Bowden Nichols, known to everyone who loved him as “Lee B.”, was born on October 11, 1927 in Dallas, Texas, and passed away on May 29, 2011 in Weatherford, Texas. Lee B. joined the Army in 1946 and was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston and Ft. Bliss in Texas and then Camp Stoneman in California. He was honorably discharged in August 1947.  

  Lee B. returned to Texas in 1947 and studied geology and drafting at SMU while working full time in the Sanger Brothers Credit department where he met Joan Ferguson. He and Joan married on September 17, 1948 in Dallas. Lee B. then began working in his field of interest as a geological drafter in the oil and gas business with Atlantic Refining Co. in Dallas in 1948 while continuing his education at SMU. Lee B. was transferred to Atlantic in Midland in 1949.   

  In 1951, Lee B. and Joan returned to Dallas where they began a family and Lee B. began working at Republic Natural Gas. From 1955-1972 he worked as an oil and gas geologist for Logue & Patterson in Dallas.  From 1972 -1974 he branched out with partners to form Double Eagle Drilling Company.   

  In 1974 he went off on his own and started LBN Oil Company where he continued to drill, and to invest in oil and gas properties which he did off and on until just the last few years, including years spent acquiring royalty interests in the Barnett Shale in north Texas. The oil business was not just his chosen profession; it was one of his great loves and he romanced it. Speaking of great loves, Lee B. and Joan’s marriage spanned 48 years until the time of her death following a long illness in 1996.  

  Missing the love and companionship that came with his long and happy marriage to Joan, he was blessed to meet another wonderful woman and soul mate in 1997. Lee married Joy Cuppett on April 16, 1997, and their two families came together….yours, mine…all “ours.” Their marriage continued until the date of his death. Lee B.’s life was full of living.   

  In addition to the oil and gas business, Lee B. loved to play and coach ball. He played baseball in his younger years and softball in his later years, including on a seniors team into his 60’s.  He also coached the women’s softball team at First Christian Church in Richardson for a time. From the 1960’s until the 1980’s, Lee. B. was very involved in leadership positions at First Christian Church, including as an elder and Chairman of the Board of Directors.   

  When Lee B. met Joy, he joined the Central Christian Church in Weatherford where Joy had been involved for years. He became an elder in that church as well. He often talked of his “church life” which was such a large part of his life, all of his life. Lee was also so proud that he sent all of his children to the University of Texas. Although he did not go to UT, he held his hands up daily in the “hook ‘em Horns” way whenever he could to indicate something he liked. Lee B. was all about his children and supported them in the good times and the bad. He was the consummate gentleman; he was full of kindness and integrity and he always taught his children to do the right thing. He stood up for the underdog and often advocated for those who others might shun based on prejudice or bias. He left some of himself with those he knew. He was a good man.  

  Lee B. is survived by his wife, Joy Cuppett Nichols; his three children, Victor Lee Nichols of Houston, Sally Ann Nichols of Dallas, and Charles Scott Nichols of Houston; his sister, Beverly Waedekin of Arlington; his two grandchildren, Victoria Leigh Nichols of Houston and Thomas Holt Nichols of College Station; and his great grandchild, Avery Ann Nichols of Houston.  

  There will be two memorial services on Wednesday, June 1 – one at Central Christian Church in Weatherford, Texas at 10:30 a.m., Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements; and the other at the Wildwood Chapel at Restland in Dallas at 3:00 p.m., where he will be buried. Restland Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.