Jon David “Buckie” Nichols II, age 48, of Salado,TX passed away unexpectedly on May 2, 2026, in Pittsboro, NC.

Jon was born on July 25, 1977, in Sweeny, TX to Jon and Yvonne Nichols. He earned the nickname “Buckie” in the nursery because he was always bucking his legs around in the crib. He graduated from Columbia High School in 1995 before proudly serving his country in the United States Navy for three years while stationed in San Diego. Following his military service, Buckie attended ITT Technical Institute in Austin, where he earned an associate degree in Computer Network Systems and graduated with honors.

For the past twenty years, Buckie worked as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networking engineer, building a respected career through his intelligence, dedication, and strong work ethic. He took great pride in his profession and was admired by colleagues and friends alike for his knowledge and willingness to help others.

At the time of his passing, Buckie was attending University of Maine at Augusta, pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity while maintaining an impressive 3.7 GPA. He was looking forward to moving back to Texas and transferring to The University of Texas at Austin, as he was always an avid Longhorn football fan.

Buckie was a devoted Christian man whose faith in Jesus Christ guided the way he lived each day. He made it a habit to get on his knees and pray in the shower daily. He valued time spent in the great outdoors and with loved ones. Whether sharing stories, fishing on the lake, cooking steaks, or simply making others laugh with his dad jokes, he had a way of making people feel welcomed and appreciated. Known for his loyalty, humor, and willingness to help anyone in need, he leaves behind countless memories that will forever be treasured by those blessed to know and love him.

Buckie was preceded in death by his sister, Celeste Nichols; his grandfather, S.L. Nichols; his grandmother, Margaret Nichols; his grandfather, Lad Hornak; and his grandmother, Beatrice Hornak.

He is survived by his father, Jon D. Nichols, respectfully known as “Hoss”; his mother, Yvonne Nichols, whom he adored; his wife, Jeane Nichols; his daughter, Chloe Furpo; his son, Cameron Nichols; his stepsons, Blake Lewis and Bailey Hodges; his stepdaughter, Mae Hakenewert; his brother, Robert Nichols; his uncles, Steve Nichols, Bennie Nichols, and Gene Hornak; his aunt, Jana Rayburn; along with many extended family members, friends, and loved ones who will forever cherish his memory.

The family is grateful for the many prayers, love, and acts of kindness shown during this time of loss. In honor of Buckie’s faithful and giving spirit, those wishing to bless the family may contribute to Jeane Nichols’ GoFundMe account for funeral expenses in lieu of flowers.

GoFundMe Link

May God richly bless you for your generosity and continued prayers.

A visitation in Jon's honor will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026 at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Killeen at 9:00AM with a funeral service to follow at 10:00AM. Following the service, Jon will be laid to rest at Central Texas State Veterans' Cemetery at 12:00PM.

Pallbearers:
Steve Nichols
Chuck Nichols
Lee Nichols
David Gattuso
Kevin Poole
Trent Kocurek