Ernest Edmund "Ed" Nicholson

Ernest Edmund "Ed" Nicholson...

It is with immeasurable sadness that we announce the loss of our loving, brilliant husband, brother, father, grandfather, friend, confidant, advisor, bandmate, and bike ride buddy (and everything else), Ernest Edmund "Ed" Nicholson. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family. Born to Jim and Fern Nicholson in Harrison, Arkansas in 1953, Ed grew up a smart, mostly well-behaved Eagle Scout and partner in crime to little brother Randy. Ever the overachiever, he was one of the youngest Eagle Scouts at the time and a Boys State citizen. He started playing guitar at 11 years old and this would connect him to many of his life's greatest friends and adventures.

He attended Hendrix College but left with few credit hours remaining in order to travel with a country-western band (La Costa), making lifelong friends and memories along the way. To say his folks were worried would be an understatement. After "spending too many Christmases away from home," he returned to Hendrix to finish his degree and then went into advertising, where he would work until his early 40s. He helped start a recording studio (The Works) in Little Rock, sharing his time writing and recording jingles and playing nights with the beloved Little Rock band, The GroanUps (to "put tacos in his kids' bellies").

In 1982, he met his very best friend, Ginger Mitchell. They married in April of 1983 and, as they would say, "spent 5 years getting [their] running around done" before growing their family. They welcomed their first son, William. Three years later, they felt on track enough to have another child and got such a bonus with twins Thomas and Julia. Wanting gentler neighborhoods, they moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1994. It was around this time that Ed decided to reinvent himself and enter the corporate world as a PR Manager for Tyson Foods. During his 21 years at Tyson, his work ethic and creativity saw his title change from PR Manager to Senior Director of Community Relations and Social Media. He worked tirelessly with food banks and disaster relief programs, donating millions of pounds of food to those in need. The people he collaborated with during this time meant the world to him, and this philanthropic spirit remained with him to the end. After leaving Tyson, he spent years working on the boards of NWA Food Bank, the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation, and Elevate Performance.

He was an avid cyclist and had numerous riding buddies, a few best riding buddies. He was an incredible musical talent and played and recorded on many albums, and played with numerous bands (Outside the Lines, Big 'Uns, Hogtown Hot Club, The Arkie DeLeons, and many others). He shared his love for music with his family, friends and everyone else. To call him multifaceted would be a gross understatement.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Jim and Fern Nicholson. He is survived by his wife Ginger Nicholson, brother Randy (Kim) Nicholson, sons Will (Ali) Nicholson, daughter Julia (Daniel) Cherry, and Thomas (Rebecca Lee) Nicholson who gave him his beautiful granddaughter Nora Elaine Nicholson-Lee, as well a whole host of aunts, uncles, cousins and other very close extended family and friends who became family.

There will be a small ceremony for family, in keeping with his wishes. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his honor to NWA Food Bank.

https://www.nwafoodbank.org/donate

Special thanks to Diamond State Cremation and Mortuary Service.