Mr. James Nick Horton

On March 24, 2025, Mr. James Nick Horton a Calloway County legend died.

James Nick Horton was born near Guntown, MS in 1938. His dad delivered him with the help of a neighbor. The Hortons moved to the Murray area in 1942. Nick attended Murray Training School and married his high school sweetheart, Frankie Jo Clark Horton in 1959. Nick and Frankie had four sons Tony, Nick Allen, Wayne, and Jesse Dan. Nick worked at Ryan Milk Company, several auto parts stores, Tappan stove plant, carpentry, and became the owner of Horton’s Lock Shop in 1983. Nick was a highly respected philanthropist and extended the love of God and a generous spirit to everyone he encountered. He was a member of the University Church of Christ, the Civitan Club, a Kentucky Colonel, and had previously volunteered as a firefighter.

Nick was preceded in death by his sons, Tony and Jesse Dan; parents, Clarence and Carmen Horton, a great granddaughter, Olivia Onofre; two sisters, Frances Adams and Jo Lovett; and three brothers, J.W., Clarence Ray, and Charles Wayne Horton.

He is survived by his wife Frankie Jo, sons Nick Allen and Wayne; daughters-in-law, Tina, Cheryl, and Candida; one sister, Effie Lou Kemp; extended family, Ronny Hernandez, Hafiz (Fariba) Panahandeh; grandchildren, Catlyn Sills, Nicholas Horton, Michal Marie Lester, Joseph Horton, Ann Onofre, David Horton, Emilee Wright, Brittany McCullough, Molly Horton, Anthony Horton, and Auzin Panahandeh; great grandchildren, Liam Sills, Hazel Sills, Davy Jo Sills, Crosby Sills, Clark Horton, Clara Beth Horton, Claire Horton, Brilee Wright, Graham Wright, Lucy Wright, Macy McCullough, Molly Grey McCullough, James Lester, Tony Lee Lester, with more on the way.

Though none of us understood him, we loved him anyway.

A Celebration of Life honoring the life of Nick will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the University Church of Christ Fellowship Hall from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Murray Calloway County Community Foundation, In Care of the University Church of Christ, 801 North 12th Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071

Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com