John E. Nicholson, Jr. of Frederick, MD died March 2, 2026 at the age of 94. He was born at the foot of Sugar Loaf Mountain in Comus, MD on June 24, 1931, the only child of John E. Nicholson, Sr and Gretchen Gertrude Wood Nicholson. John was known as Johnny Boy to his friends and family.
He graduated from Poolesville High School in 1951.
He met the love of his life, Betty Cook at the Hyattstown Carnival, where he sold tickets to the dance hall, They were married on December 16, 1955 totaling 70 years together.
He worked most of his life on the family farm in Comus. He also worked for Southern States in Frederick for 28 years. After retirement from Southern States, John worked for Farmer's Co-op for another 18 years before retiring completely to be at home with Betty. He loved to keep busy and couldn't be still. This could be seen in his well kept yard. He enjoyed working in his vegetable garden, growing flowers and trimming the many shrubs that he planted in the yard. Johnny felt close to God working in the soil. He also took pride in the many bird houses he had around their home. But a small stroke and two broken hips confined him in a wheel chair the last four years of his life.
He leaves behind his wife Betty, foster sister Dorothy Sprouse and husband Frank, Janie Bowles and husband Steve, cousin Carolyn Maher and husband Thomas, Lisa and Larry Ecker and their children Morgan and Brian, The "Cook Girls" as Johnny called them and the many other family, neighbors, and friends who stopped by to visit.
Family and friends can gather at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701, on Thursday March 5, 2026 from 10 am until the start of the funeral service at 11am. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Online condolences can be made at www.KeeneyBasford.com