Michael Anthony Nicholas, 95, of Bryan, Texas, passed away peacefully in the evening of July 27, 2026. Born on November 5, 1930, in Port Arthur, Texas, Mike was the only son of Mike Nicholas Sr. and Elia Touchet Nicholas and grew up alongside his three sisters, Dorothy Gann, Laura Boyd, and Hazel Vanderhoff.
Those who knew Mike knew that his greatest love was his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His faith shaped every part of his life, and few conversations ended without him sharing scripture, encouragement, or his love for the Lord. He served faithfully as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Port Arthur and volunteered with the Bob Hope School for disabled children. Later in life, while living at The Parc Independent Living, he started a Bible study that became a blessing to many of his fellow residents along with a resident weekly bingo game for entertainment.
Even into his nineties, Mike never stopped making new friends or investing in the lives of others. While at The Parc Independent Living, young people decades his junior would stop by to sit around his kitchen table, share pizza, visit with him, and tell him how much his friendship, wisdom, and unwavering faith had impacted their lives. He had a remarkable gift for making people feel seen, welcomed, and encouraged, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met. A second Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at The Parc at Traditions, the independent living community where Mike spent the last five years of his life surrounded by a wonderful community of friends.
Mike attended St. Mary's Catholic School and Thomas Jefferson High School, where he met his high school sweetheart, Lora Mae. They were married for 70 wonderful years, building a life centered on faith, family, and love until her passing in 2021.
A proud member of Texas A&M University's Class of 1953, Mike was a member of the Aggie Corps and the Calvary Unit. He was also Southwest Conference Fencing champion. After graduating, he proudly served his country as a Captain in the United States Army's Armored Division. He later began his career with DuPont in Orange, Texas, where he worked his way up from operations into management, eventually retiring as Head of Personnel.
Mike is survived by his daughters, Kay Herrington and her husband, Tony, and Karen Babb and her husband, James; his grandsons, Ryan Trahan and his wife, Skylar, and Jordon Reese and his fiancée, Kara Karnovsky; and Ryan and Skylar's son, Mike’s great-grandson, Nicholas Harper Trahan.
Mike loved the outdoors and treasured hunting and fishing throughout his life. His family will forever cherish the stories he loved to tell, from duck hunting in the marshes as a boy to pulling a pirogue over a levee to reach a favorite fishing spot with Lora Mae by his side. Blessed with a quick wit and a gift for storytelling, he could make anyone laugh. His daughters fondly remember early Saturday mornings spent fishing or duck hunting with their dad, complete with homemade cheese sandwiches and Cokes packed for the day. They also smile when they remember the day he announced they were making a quick trip to the hardware store for a lawnmower part, only to surprise them with two beautiful yellow Schwinn bicycles instead. It was one of the many ways Mike delighted in creating joyful memories for the people he loved.
Refined and gracious in the way he treated others, Mike was a man who carried his warmth and faith into everyday life. Whether sharing stories, teaching his grandsons a playful "lyrical poetry" joke that they knew not to repeat, or simply visiting with a friend, he had a gift for making people feel seen, welcomed, and encouraged. One of his favorite expressions was "Smallagh" (small-AH), a phrase he learned from his Lebanese father that he used as an expression of gratitude and praise. Another favorite saying of his was, "A good day was had by all."
Mike’s legacy is one of unwavering faith, steadfast love for his family, generosity, and joyful storytelling. He leaves behind a family deeply grateful for his example and comforted by the assurance that he is now home with his Savior and reunited with the love of his life.
Visitation will be held at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves, Texas, on August 3, 2026 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Mike’s memory by sharing God's love with someone, spending time with your family, or enjoying a quiet day outdoors remembering a life well lived.