Familly and Friends Remember Levelland Cyclist

"Anytime that God called Paul home he was ready," Holster said.  "We just didn't anticipate it to be this soon."

Paul Nichols was a cyclist.

"He loved riding and was conditioned for it," Holster said.

"He loved riding his bike," Morris said. "He loved that bike."

Nichols daughter Suzette Morris said at 72-years-old, with two new knees, Nichols could not get enough of his bike.

"He had all these biking buddies and they all thought so much of him and he thought a lot of all of them," Morris said. "That just kept him going, it kept him young."

Wednesday afternoon Nichols was riding his bike on FM 3261 when he was hit by a car.

He died on the side of the road.  

Mike Holster has been Nichols Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Levelland for ten years.

He said for Nichols 70^th birthday, he a friends celebrated by taking a 70 mile bike ride.

They called it Tour de Paul.

"He survived it going 10,15, 20, 30, 40 miles," Holster said.  "It was just a joy to him, he could do it."

"He was just a great guy and he is going to be missed by a lot of people," Morris said.

Morris said her father was a happy man with a lot of friends.

"He was always happy and he loved his kids and his grandkids and he loved to go watch them and support them," Morris said. "He loved my mom and now he is with my mom and that gives me peace."

Holster said he remembers Nichols as a very outgoing man who always put others first.

"He was very outgoing," Holster said. "He loved to work, he loved to be with people. [He always thought of] others. He was more interested in others than himself."

Holster said Nichols' death is a shock to the family.

His wife Judy passed away last August after a long battle with cancer.

But Holster said they are comforted in knowing he died doing what he loved.

"It's hard on us because we were not expecting it," Holster said. "But it was no surprise to God. God knew and God took him in the right time and in the right way."