Cecil Jay Nix
Cecil Jay Nix
December 6, 1947 – April 20, 2024
A Funeral Service with Military Honors will be held for Cecil Jay Nix, 76, of North Bend, on Saturday May 11, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Nelson's Bay Area Mortuary, 405 Elrod Ave., Coos Bay, Oregon. Pastor Mike Barnard will officiate. Interment will be at Roseburg National Cemetery in Roseburg on May 13, 2024.
Cecil passed away April 20, 2024 in North Bend at home. He was born December 6, 1947 in Pomona, California. Cecil resided with his mother, older brother, younger sister and maternal grandmother in Ontario, California. After high school, Cecil joined the Army and served three tours in Viet Nam where he served as a helicopter crew chief, surviving several crashes; however, the last crash proved to be the million dollar ticket home and he was sent stateside to the Presidio at Letterman Hospital where he spent eight months before being honorably discharged. Cecil did not take any disability until his late 50's when he became partially disabled. He was only one of two purple heart recipients in the State of Oregon who was not on disability.
Not to be kept down, Cecil returned to Ontario, California after his hospital discharge and became a police officer. He was chosen to be one of the early paramedics at the beginning of that program in California. He married Barbara Richardson and became a loving stepfather to her two little girls, Kathy and Bobbie. In 1972, their daughter, Susann was born and completed their family. In 1975, Cecil and his brother, Jim Ginsburg moved both their families to Lakeview, OR. They moved the next year to Coos Bay, OR and leased a dairy ranch on Seven Devils Rd. They had an opportunity to buy a dairy on Hollow Stump Lane in North Bend. He married Nancy Sackfield McVey on July 3, 1994 and they were married for almost 30 years. He dairied, did custom haying and farm construction until he could no longer work.
He spent his later years growing beautiful amaryllis flowers, growing vegetables in his greenhouse and beautifying the farm. He also made beautiful wood gifts for his family and friends in his woodworking shop. He and Nancy spent a few winters in Yuma, AZ until he could no longer travel.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy, his daughter and son-in-law, Susann and Andy Beaulieu, Stepchildren, Katherine Neely and Bobbie Richardson, Michaela McVey and stepson, Blain McVey: Grandchildren, Jasmine Bingham, Hannah Beaulieu, Michael Garcia and wife, Michelle and Brandon Briones, Brandon Davidson, Kristi Hilding, Rebecca and Emma McVey and grandnephew, Tim and Joy Bartholomew, sister, Margarette Louise Nix. He also left 12 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Fern Nix and brother, Jim Ginsburg.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson's Bay Area Mortuary, 405 Elrod Ave., Coos Bay, Oregon 541/267-4216
