Dr. Duane Guy Nichols, of Morgantown and a native of Paden City, W.Va., passed peacefully on June 14, 2024, surrounded by family.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Guy L. Nichols and June Gorrell Nichols; and his daughter, Tanya Nichols Woods (Jim Woods).
Duane is survived by his wife of 35 years, C. Sue Miles-Nichols; daughter, Tracy Connell Hancock (Christopher Burns); and stepdaughter, Jane Cecil (Matt Brengman); as well as siblings, Roger P. Nichols, June Elaine Morrell and Rosemary Valentine; and six loving grandchildren.
Duane was an esteemed chemical engineer and energy technologist, civil rights leader and environmental activist. Born and raised in Tyler County, W.Va., Duane graduated from Paden City High School and West Virginia University and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware.
Duane served on the faculty of Delaware State University and West Virginia University as head of the fossil energy section at the Research Triangle Institute, senior process engineer with the Conoco Coal Development Corporation and as group leader for CONSOL R&D. Duane championed environmental awareness with the Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition, Cheat Lake Environment and Recreation Association, and FrackCheckWV blog. In 2011, Duane was awarded the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club “Unsung Hero Award.” In 2014, he was inducted into the WVU Department of Chemical Engineering Academy of Chemical Engineers.
A viewing will be held at the Furbee Williams Funeral Home in Alma, W.Va. from 1-2 p.m. on June 19, followed by a memorial service. The interment will be at the Beechwood Cemetery at Alma, W.Va. A future celebration of life will be planned for relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions are welcome and can be mailed to Cheat Lake Environment and Recreation Association (CLEAR), 320 Dream Catcher Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508 (https://cheatlakeclear.org/) or Paden City Public Library, 114 South 4th Ave., Paden City, WV 26159-1494 (https://padencitylibrary.org/).
