Shawn David Nichols

Shawn David Nichols, our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away in Mesa, Arizona, on January 11, 2019. Shawn will be forever remembered by his parents, David and Sandra, as well as his siblings, Tracie Haddock (Darren), Terra, Cassie Kreyling (Daniel), Justin (Kayli), Natalie Williams (Parker), Hannah Nielsen (Gary), and Dallin. He is also survived by his nephews and nieces, Porter, Mason, Lindsay, Spencer, and Tanner Haddock; Lacey and Payson Lee; Rylee, Lucie, Walker, and Owen Nichols; and Wesley and Hazel Williams.

The second of eight children, Shawn was born on November 8, 1974, in Mesa, Arizona. Starting at a young age, Shawn was an avid outdoorsman. He grew up going hunting, fishing, camping, boating, hiking, four-wheeling, and horse riding with his family and friends. He started playing the drums in 5th grade, which led to his participation in elementary, junior high, and high school band, summer band camp at NAU, and a rock band in his twenties. Shawn was also a Cub and Boy Scout, earning his Eagle Award in 1992. While in high school, he participated in marching band, seminary, and many outdoor social activities. He graduated from Westwood High School in 1993. Shawn then served a mission in Toronto, Canada, from 1994 to 1996. He received his BS in Fire Administration from Arizona State University in 2007.

Shawn spent the bulk of his working years in the behavioral health field, helping at-risk young men. But he also had a wide variety of other jobs, including bus driver, Uber and Lyft driver, ski patroller, boat inspector, ramp agent at Sky Harbor Airport, limousine driver, parking valet, and security guard.

Shawn was kind to everyone he met, and he was known to meet and befriend just about anyone. He was a delightful traveling companion and went on many trips with siblings and friends to different places in Arizona, the west, and other countries. He was always up for a new adventure. Shawn loved talking and storytelling with his family and friends. He loved to play pranks; his sense of humor was contagious. He had a knack for helping people feel at ease. Shawn’s openness to strangers and sincere interest in people from all walks of life is the legacy he leaves for his loved ones.

A funeral service in memory of Shawn will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 830 East Lehi Road, Mesa, Arizona 85203, with a viewing one hour prior to service, at 9:00am, at the same location. An additional viewing will be held on Friday, January 18, 2019 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Bunker’s University Chapel, 3529 East University Drive, Mesa, Arizona 85213.