James Clarence Nichols, 74, of Marion, passed away on Jan. 12, 2016, at home. Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15 from Ephesus Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Dee McGuire officiating and Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel directing. Visitation will be held Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Nichols was born Dec. 22, 1941, in Sprott.

He was preceded by his parents, Troy B. and Mattie Era Hopkins Nichols.

He is survived his wife, Betty A. Averette Cleary; daughters, Heather Thurber (Paul) of Marion, Hope Wilson Smith (Rodney) of Selma and Deborah Burchell of Columbia, Tennessee; sons, James Keith of Verbena, Buddy Cleary (Tracy) of Marion and Terry Cleary (Kerilyn) of Symrna, Tennessee; sisters, Martha Jean Osburn of Uniontown and Carolyn Adams of Brent; brother, Maurice Nichols of Heiberger; 13 grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be the grandsons, Alan Thurber, Jonathon Thurber, A J Huckabee, Will Cleary, Brad Hobson and Chase Hobson.

Honorary pallbearers are Charles W. Smith, Pat Ivey, John Anderson, Ken Daniel, Jamie Horton, Jim Bo Carr, Earl Wayne Green, TJ Massey, Tom Aultman, Clint Tyas and his bike friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Marion Academy, 1804 Prier Drive, Marion, AL 36756.