The son of Clara Bell Trout and Willie “Bill” Pearl Nicholson, “Stretch” was born on July 26, 1925 and raised in Marquam, Oregon.

He was a graduate of Molalla High School and Lassen Junior College, Susanville, Calif. He lived for many years in Susanville, where he worked for the California Department of Corrections at Susanville.

Stretch married Mable 17 years ago, and they made their home in Sherwood, Ore. They enjoyed their beautiful garden and traveled to many places.

Recently, Mable and Stretch moved to the Seattle area.

Stretch is survived by his wife, Mable M. Nicholson of Auburn, Wash., his children, stepchildren and grandchildren: Mary Pyle, daughter, of Tigard, Ore.; Susan L. Eilts, daughter, of Newberg, Ore.; Laurie Pyle, granddaughter, of Tigard, Ore.; Thomas David Eilts, grandson, of Atlanta; Devin Eilts, great-grandson; Ronald Englund, stepson, (wife Brenda and family); Sherry Smith, step-granddaughter, (husband Gary and family); Kenneth Hirst, step-grandson, (wife Debbie, who was Stretch’s loving nurse, and family); and Steven Hirst, step-grandson, (wife Lisa and family).

Published in The Molalla Pioneer on February 8, 2012