Thomas Edward Nicholls

Thomas (Tom) Edward Nicholls, 71, of Visalia, California, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on November 15, 2025. Tom was born to William and Margaret Nicholls (Schreiber) on March 16, 1954, in Flint, Michigan. Tom grew up in Clovis, California and graduated from Clovis High School. He earned his BA and teaching credential from CSU Fresno. He married Lorrie (Lindsay) in January of 1978 at his parents' home in Clovis. Together they raised four children: Daniel, Nicole, Barbara, and Mitchell. They were always a source of pride for Tom. Tom loved his family more than anything else in the world. He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed hearing about his children and all they were doing. His grandchildren held a very special place in his heart. Before becoming a teacher, Tom worked with his dad as an appliance technician for Nicholls Appliance. Tom went to school to learn refrigeration repair to add this service to the business. After some years, Tom decided to go back to Fresno State and finish his education as well as pursue his teaching credential. His first teaching job was in Fresno for Central Unified. He taught fifth and sixth grade for fifteen years there. After Lorrie got her teaching credential, they moved to Porterville where Tom taught for another fourteen years for Porterville Unified. He taught sixth grade and was a middle school science teacher for two years. Tom loved teaching and was happy he got to do this job for twenty-nine years. Tom's favorite thing to do was spend time with his family. Whether it was camping, going fishing, celebrating birthdays, watching swim meets, swimming at home, baking goodies, or just playing a board game, he loved being with his family. These activities were what he missed the most in the last years of his life. Tom is survived by his wife, Lorrie, of forty-seven years, their four children: His son, Daniel, and his wife Melissa; his daughter, Nicole, and her husband Juan; his daughter, Barbara, and her husband Andrew; and his son, Mitchell. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren. Daniel's children: Jordan (wife Emily), Noah, Eli, Aaron, and Emmalyn. Nicole's children: Andreas, Titus, Benny, and Max. Barbara's children: Abby and Ava. He also is survived by sisters, Julia Summers and Jane Falls, and his brother, Paul as well as six nieces. Tom will be truly missed, but never forgotten, by all who knew him. Memorial services will be held 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tuesday, December 30th, 2025 at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell Ave., Visalia. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Thomas Edward Nicholls

March 16, 1954 - November 15, 2025