Jere Newton Nichols

Jere Newton Nichols Gladewater -- Services for Jere Newton Nichols, 74, of Gladewater, will be held on Sunday, December 4, 2011, at 3 P.M. at the First Baptist Church with Brother Bailey Harris and Brother Ellis Hayden officiating. Burial will be in Gladewater Memorial Park. Born on December 16, 1936, in Kilgore, Texas, he died on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. He attended Stephen F. Austin University and played for the Lumberjacks. Later he played professional football for the Baltimore Colts. He coached and taught for the Union Grove Independent School District, retiring several years ago. He was a member of the Gladewater First Baptist Church and the Adult IV Men"s Sunday School Class. He is survived by his wife, Martha Jo Dees Nichols of Gladewater; daughters, Susan Nichols; Peggy Menefee; Nancy and Edd Long; Beth McKamy; Jill Cureton; son, Blake Newton Nichols; 4 grandchildren, Jason King, Christopher and Carrie Long, Lachelle and Dustin Tedder, Dallas Long; 3 great-grandchildren, Cody Tedder, Logan Tedder, and Corbin Long; brother, Tommy Nichols; sister, Janice Johnson; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Eva Nichols; brother, Bobby Nichols; and son-in-law, Leland Menefee. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater.