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Samuel Frederick Nixon IV "Rick" of Austin, Texas, formerly of Mayville, N.Y., passed away on April 14, 2021.
He was born on June 18, 1953, in Jamestown, N.Y., to the late Samuel Frederick and Millie (Hall) Nixon III. He attended Nichols School in Buffalo, N.Y., before graduating from Hamburg High School in 1971. He later attended Baldwin Wallace University.
Rick spent his summers in the Chautauqua Institution working on the infamous "most handsome" garbage truck crew. It was there that he joined the Aardvarks softball team and became their star pitcher. With Rick's competitive nature and love of all things sports related he would be delighted to be remembered by the one time the Aardvarks defied all odds coming from seven runs behind the Charlie Brown All-Stars when Rick slammed a home run and drove in three runs helping bring the final score to 15-10.
Even though he resided in Texas, his heart was always in Chautauqua. It was there that he was married at the Hall of Philosophy at the Chautauqua Institution to Nancy Poage in 1981.
He was a carpenter by trade. Rick built both homes in which he resided in his earlier years. His first complete home build was located in Mayville, N.Y., and later after moving to Austin, Texas, he completed his second complete build.
Rick was a member of the Oak Hill Fire Department and continued working in his second passion of building and construction in Texas, even in his final years, constantly fine tuning his craft building beautiful furniture pieces for his home.
He loved sports of all genres. He was especially passionate about the Buffalo Bills, the Buffalo Sabres, the Texas Longhorns, golfing, and Formula One Racing. The only thing Rick loved more than sports, was his family. The pride that his two children and grandchildren brought him was undeniable.
Rick is survived by a son, Samuel F. (Jennifer) Nixon V; a daughter, Carolyn "Mickey" (Benjamin) White; three grandchildren: Samuel F. Nixon VI, McKinley and Gage White; two sisters: Melanie (Nathaniel) Reffner and Melinda (Albert) Jones; a nephew, David Douglas; a niece, Heather (Brian) Kranz; Four great nephews: Brandon Douglas, Kyle Douglas, Gage and Matthew Freeburg; two great nieces: Gabrielle and Kalli Freeburg; and cousins and countless longtime friends from New York to Texas.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Maria Camden; and his beloved black labrador, Allie.
A celebration of Rick's life will be held at a later date.