Dodge City - Lance Lee Nichols, 84, died March 9, 2024 at Presbyterian Manor of the Plains, Dodge City.  He was born on July 25, 1939 at Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Virgil F.  and Vera M. (Long) Nichols.

Lance grew up in Lyndon and graduated from Lyndon High School. He then attended Emporia State Teachers College where he played football, basketball and baseball. Lance signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played from 1961 to 1967. He served in the US Army Reserves from 1962 to 1968. On February 9, 1963 he married Barbara Ann Livingston.

After graduating from college, Lance and Barbara moved to Dodge City where he was a teacher and coach for 5 years.  He returned to professional baseball as a field manager with the Montreal Expos. Lance managed up to the AAA level and then became the field coordinator for the Baltimore Orioles. He was also the farm director for the Phillies, before turning to scouting with the Colorado Rockies, Montreal Expos, and finally the Washington Nationals. Lance enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking and especially traveling with his wife Barbara.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and Keystone Sunday School Class and was a member of the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame and 2022 inductee into Emporia State University Athletic Hall of Honor.

Lance is survived by his wife Barbara of Dodge City; a son, Ty Lance Nichols and wife Christina Lynn and their children, Alexandra Scott and husband Adam; and Lance Taylor; a daughter, Tara Brooke Marsh and husband Michael and their son, Carson Michael Marsh; a sister, Sharon Lea Balocca and nieces, Lisa Jo and Julie Marie and a nephew, Todd Anthony. He was preceded in death by his parents and a niece, Nina.

Private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Keystone Sunday School Class of the First United Methodist Church. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.