NICHOLS, STEPHEN LYNN, age 81 of Kirkwood, passed away February 7, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester J. and Fern Hiatt Nichols; his step-father, William Honeycutt; a brother, James D. Nichols; and two sisters, Carol Nichols and Janice Marie Pope. He is survived by his husband, James F. Andris; one daughter, Stephanie Michelle Nichols (Dawn Maria DeCosta) of Scituate, MA, one brother, Dr. Larry (Carol) Nichols of San Clemente, CA; one sister, Judi Beuse, of Lake Havasu City, AZ; and one grandchild, Sasha Nichols DeCosta of Scituate, MA.

In recent years he was in touch with nephew, Stephen F. Nichols of Mountain View, CA; and nieces, Jacque Nichols Halverson, of Mountain View and Karyn Horton of Bend, OR.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 6 at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 600 N. Euclid, St. Louis, MO. A reception will follow at the church. Stephen requested that donations go to Trinity’s Food Ministry.

Stephen was a lifelong student and scholar. He was born in Hastings, NE. As a child, his family moved around the country. He graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose in 1959 and from Gonzaga University (B.A. Classical) in 1965. He obtained three degrees from the George Peabody College of Teachers in Nashville; M.A, 1967; Spec. In Education, 1970; and Ph.D., 1974. Stephen began a career in early childhood/special education, directing federal grants in South Carolina and Georgia, and teaching at Lehigh University. He came to St. Louis as the director of Miriam School in 1979. He was Dean of Students at Tarkio College and later Dean of the International Graduate School from 1985 to 1990.

It was in St. Louis that Stephen and James (Jym) Andris met through a common educational friend. They have been together for 39 years. They count their Holy Union at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Louis May 15, 1993 as their anniversary, but they were also married in Edwardsville, Illinois on August 12, 2012. Jim and Stephen participated fully in the life, liturgy, and programs at Trinity. Stephen served on the vestry and scheduled the altar personnel for many years. He studied voice and sang tenor in the Trinity Choir for 30 years, even when his disability made that a challenge.

Jym and Stephen supported a variety of cultural and political causes, kept an extensive concert schedule, played duplicate bridge and entertained friends.

At home, Stephen loved working around their classic old townhouse, gardening and pets. He especially grew beautiful irises. He also was a lifelong stamp collector and had a large collection of first day issues. He struggled with illnesses until 1999, when he went on disability, yet he continued to be engaged in a variety of occupations, including instructor, dissertation editor, house cleaner, nanny, gardener, and nutritional supplement sales.

In 2017 Stephen’s disability necessitated a move to independent living at Bethesda Gardens in Kirkwood where his positive outlook and warm smile is missed.