Preston Nelson

Funeral services for Preston Nelson, 85, of Jefferson will be held at 2:00 pm Friday December 6, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Jefferson, Texas with Bro. Ron Danley and Bro. Jeff Taylor Officiating and under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home. A time of visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at 1:00pm in the First Baptist Church of Jefferson. Interment will immediately follow at New Prospect Cemetery in Jefferson, Texas.

Mr. Nelson was born in Jefferson, Texas on February 25, 1939, to Jessie Lenard Nelson, Sr. and Helen Julie Post Nelson, and went walking with Jesus on December 2, 2024, in Longview, TX.

He enjoyed Jefferson Bulldogs, Dallas Cowboys, and Alabama Football. He loved to talk and would stop to talk to anyone. He saved all scraps to feed the neighborhood dog, Lucky. Many summers were spent canning hot sauce made from his garden of tomatoes and vegetables. He loved all animals. We had goats, donkeys, and many dogs. Mr. Nelson was very creative and could figure out or rig up anything.

After his retirement from Witco Chemical in 1997 where he was a welder in production, he enjoyed gardening, working in his shop, summer vacation Bible school, and the Marion County fair, driving the lawn mower and train for the kids and cooking hot dogs. He was an active member at First Baptist Church where he was a Deacon, Usher, and VBS Lawn Mower/Train driver. He was also a member of The Masonic Lodge in Jefferson as a Mason. His last four months were spent in the hospital in Longview where he lost both of his legs due to no blood circulation. We would like to thank the HV nurses at Longview Regional and nurses at Longview Continue Care.

Mr.  Nelson was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, baby brother Ronald Dan Nelson, Jessie Lenard Nelson, Jr. (J.L. or Son); stepbrother he loved, John Thomas (Gin) McDaniel; dogs, Festus, Jasper, and Lily.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years Norma Jean Purdy Nelson, and daughter Tammy ReNee Nelson Sharp and husband Richard; brother-in-law, Charles Lewis Purdy and wife Betty; grandchildren, Caitlin and Teri Sharp; nephews, Jamey Purdy, Joey Purdy, Dayton Plunkett; his canine companion, Sadie; grand dogs that named him Poops, Baby Doll P and Daisy.

Those serving as Pallbearers are Jamey Purdy, Joey Purdy, Dayton Plunkett, Kent Thigpen, Rick Hollon, and Wendell McNeely.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Friends of Jefferson Animals at 304 E. Elizabeth St., Jefferson, Texas 75657.

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