Richard Lloyd Nikkila

Richard “Lloyd” Nikkila, 81, of Astoria, passed away on Oct. 8, 2017, in Astoria. Lloyd was born on June 27, 1936, in North Dakota, to Richard and Norma Nikkila. The family moved to Astoria when he was young, and Lloyd graduated from Astoria High School in 1954.

In 1959, Lloyd became a longshoreman and worked out of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 50 in Astoria, Oregon, until retiring in 1998. He loved and proudly supported his union throughout his career and retirement. In fact, he jokingly referred to the ILWU as “the best marriage I ever had.” Later, he would have the opportunity to welcome his daughter, Cathy, into the “family business” of longshoring, and was especially proud when she became a member of ILWU Local 50.

Lloyd married three times in his life. In 1960, Lloyd met and married his first wife, Joyce. With this marriage, came two children, Craig Belt and Catherine Nikkila. Lloyd and Joyce later divorced, remarried, and divorced a second time. Catherine gave him the opportunity to be a grandfather to her five children, Thomas and Timothy Hippensteel, Vanessa Marshall, Melissa Early and Michael Nikkila, as well as three great-granddaughters, Sage, Neveah and Mackenzie.

Lloyd married his second wife, Esther, in 1980. This marriage grew the blended family by three daughters, two sons and many grandchildren, who held a special place in his heart. After Lloyd and Esther divorced, they remained friends until his death.

He briefly married one more time, in 1997, to Terri.

Lloyd enjoyed decorating for holidays and playing the role of Santa Claus for community and school events. He did this for many years, and it brought him more joy and excitement each holiday season. In addition to his annual role play of Santa, his hobbies included fishing, hunting, woodworking, traveling and searching for new additions to his antique collections. Lloyd had a full and blessed life, living on his own terms.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Nikkila. Lloyd is survived by his mother, Norma Nikkila of Astoria, and his brother, Norman Nikkila of Astoria.

His visitation will be Friday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 5 p.m., at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m., at the Ocean View Cemetery Chapel in Warrenton. A reception follows at 12:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Astoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ILWU Astoria High School Scholarship Fund, 491 Industry St., Astoria, OR 97103.