Charles Wesley Nichols

Charles Wesley Nichols of Arnett, Oklahoma, passed away on May 3, 2026, at Newman Memorial Hospital in Shattuck, Oklahoma. He was born July 10, 1936, to Leroy and Susie (Davis) Nichols at their ranch home on the West Prong the Frio River near Leakey, Texas. He was the eldest child and only son, followed by five sisters.
He excelled in school and FFA, earning both the Lone Star Farmer and American Farmer Degrees. During the drought of the 1950s, he managed the remaining livestock on the family ranch while attending Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde. He later transferred to Texas A&M University, earning his B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry.
He next completed a Master's in Wool Technology at Colorado State University, followed by a Ph.D. in Animal Breeding from Oklahoma State University. Charles began his career as the State Extension Animal Breeding Specialist at OSU.
In 1969, he married Sherry Davison who was also OSU faculty. They moved to Arnett, Oklahoma, in 1973 to join her family's ranching operation, Davison & Sons Cattle Company, where he devoted the remainder of his career to improving cattle production and rangeland stewardship.
Charles was a respected state and national leader in the cattle industry, serving on the USDA Cattlemen's Beef Board, Oklahoma Futures Board, Dean's Advisory Committee for OSU, National Cattlemen's Beef Association committees, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association boards and the Kansas City Federal Reserve. He also served his community through school and hospital boards. He was a devoted elder and teacher at Arnett Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers-in-law, Jerry Thomerson and Bob Burditt; and nephew Kevin Davenport. He is survived by his wife Sherry; daughters Jennifer Shaw (Brent) of Norman, OK, and Ruth Ann Givens (Weston) of Arnett, OK; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; five sisters, Gail Nichols, Pat Burrier (Paul), Elaine Duderstadt (Culver), Sudie Burditt, Dusty Thompson (James), all of Real County, TX; and numerous extended family members, friends and colleagues.
Memorials may be made to the OSU Foundation, with memo Dr. Charles Nichols, OCA Foundation, or Newman Memorial Hospital in Shattuck OK.