'I'm the person I am today because of him': Remembering the late Eugene Nichols

Eugene Nichols was known as a loyal, generous man who always put others ahead of himself.

A businessman and farmer who owned two Marion County grocery stores, Nichols was surrounded by family at his home when he died from natural causes on Oct. 31, 2023. He was 88.

Nichols was born and raised in Marion County and attended schools in the area, family members said. At 21, Nichols joined the U.S. Army and spent two years in service working in communications.

Leaving the service, Nichols delivered groceries, which eventually opened a new door for him: owning two grocery stores of his own.

Grocery store owner

The first of Nichols' two grocery stores was Gene's Supermarket near Howard Academy. His daughter, Alicia Rice, said the store opened in 1974 and was sold a decade later. The second store was in the 1200 block of Northwest 27th Avenue. It opened in the late 1980s.

Rice said the second store, also name Gene's Supermarket, was owned by both her father and Austin Long. Rice said her father's involvement in the store ended in the mid-1990s.

Rice said both stores "fed a lot of people in the community."

"He was always a giver. He went above and beyond for anyone," Rice said.

The stores provided jobs for the community and it was a place admired by everyone.

Nichols' niece

One admirer was Lt. April Nichols of the Marion County Sheriff's Office, who was a beneficiary of her uncle's employment and saw first hand how hard he worked.

Nichols remembers standing on milk crates to pack groceries. She said she used to take groceries to the home of elderly residents who for one reason or another were unable to leave their homes.

The supervisor said her parents worked at the store, and she credits her uncle with instilling a strong work ethic in her and her family.

"We're a working family," she said.

The Marion County deputy said she was born and raised in the county and recalls visiting her uncle frequently. She said he was "like a second father to me," and recalls "good conversations" between them.

"I'm the person I am today because of him," she said.

Remembering Nichols

Once the stores closed, Nichols kept working. His daughter said he was a farmer, raised cattle, and sold produce. He continued working until he could no longer physically do so.

His wife, Helen, died on Jan. 2 at age 90. Rice said Helen Nichols was her stepmother. Aside from his daughter, Nichols raised his godson, Barry Robinson, as his son. He also had a son from a previous marriage.

"He loved his family and friends," Rice said.

Sheriff's Deputy Nichols said she "loved her uncle's business sense" and his unique way of being "a people person."

"He tried to help everyone and anyone and I can't think of anyone who didn't know him," she said.

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As to what Rice will miss about her father? She said, "caring for him, his wisdom, his level of love for me and everyone, his presence and what he meant to me and everyone."

"I learned a lot from him and he gave me valuable information," she said.

Funeral arrangements

Nichols' funeral will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at United Holiness Church of Christ Deliverance Center, Inc., 1642 NW Third St., Ocala. He will be buried on Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Marion County business owner who loved the community has died