Raymond P. Nicholson age 93 of Ames, Iowa died Friday at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. On Monday, July 22 a gathering of friends and family will be held from 3:00PM to 7:00PM at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care located at 414 Lincoln Way in Ames. The family will be present from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. An 11:00AM memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 23 at First United Methodist Church at 6th and Kellogg in Ames with burial at Ames Municipal Cemetery.

Raymond Porter Nicholson was born on May 27, 1920 in the Laramie County Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado to Percy and Josie Nicholson. Ray attended country schools in the Fort Collins area and graduated from Tinmath High School in 1938. He attended one year of veterinary school in California and worked in a clinic caring for horses and small animals before being called to war. Because of his experience, Ray served as a medic from 1942 to 1945 serving in Australia and the Philippines. Though suffering a knee injury, Ray was present to see General Douglas MacArthur say "I shall return" before rejoining the 1st Calvary Division.

After being discharged, Ray received his Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Colorado State University in 1948 then came to Ames, Iowa for graduate school in Soil Fertility. Working with Dr. Charlie Black he was introduced to Margaret Ann Ray who worked in the soil testing laboratory. They were wed on June 20, 1953 in Boone, Iowa. While working at various Iowa State University experimental farms in northwest Iowa, the couple had three children: Karen, Ann, and Kerry. Ray was appointed Superintendent of the ISU Agronomy Farms in 1963 and held that position until he retired in 1985. In retirement, Ray and his wife enjoyed gardening, yard work, and taking their grandkids to the playground and swimming pool near their house in Ames. In 2003, Ray moved to Northcrest Community where he had an apartment with a small garden plot that allowed him to continue to enjoy his love of tending plants.

Ray is survived by two daughters, Karen (Brian) Boesenberg of Ankeny and Ann (Bill) Elenitsky of Naperville, Illinois; one son Kerry (Cheryl) Nicholson of Ankeny; five grandchildren; Kelly (Ryan) Smith, Lindsey Elenitsky, Adam (Heidi) Boesenberg, Lucas Elenitsky and Steven Nicholson; three great grandchildren: Owen, Eli and Audrey Smith.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Margaret, and older brother Leroy.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church or Northcrest Community.

On line condolences may be sent to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com


Blessed be the memories of Raymond Porter Nicholson.