Earl Eugene Nelson

Funeral services for Earl Eugene Nelson will be conducted on Thursday, January 4th, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Community Bible Fellowship Church with Pastor Chris Wiley officiating. Visitation for Earl will be held on Wednesday, January 3rd. 2018 beginning at noon until 6:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. His final resting place will be at Molly Field Cemetery in Cherokee County. Online condolences for his family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

The Pallbearers for Earl include Larry Pritchett, Gary Stephens, Chris Waits, Seth Coon, Michael Nelson, and Steve Carey. His honorary pallbearers include Billy Heath, Leon Wilson, Charlie Welch, Cody Todd, Jesse Morrison, and Reece Cookson.

Earl Eugene nelson or “Son” to his family and friends, was born on January 14th, 1928 in Cherokee County, OK, the son of Pete and Virgie (Nodine) Nelson. He joined a family of one brother, Wallace and one sister, Gloria. He attended school and then decided to serve his country and enlisted into the US Army, where he served honorably beginning in October of 1948 at the end of WWII, until November 1968, during the Vietnam Conflict. On October 29th, 1951, he married the love of his life and his best friend, Opal Brown, in Huntsville, AR. Together they shared 66 years of memories and raised a family of one son, Gary and three daughters, Connie, Carol and Lois. He was a dedicated soldier, husband, father, and family man. Upon completing his military career, he returned to Tahlequah and started a second career, serving as the Supervisor Of Housing for Northeastern State University. He got along famously with all the student and facility, always having that friendly smile on his face. Whenever he wasn’t working, he could be found getting ready to head to the nearest fishing hole to indulge in a little fishing, then maybe spend the day out camping with his family. He liked to travel , and always enjoyed a weekend get away to Las Vegas, and many other destinations. When the weather wasn’t so good, he could be found relaxing in his easy chair, watching WWE Wrestling on television. All it took to make Earl smile was to ask him about his six wonderful grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren, he loved watching them play or spending a holiday with them. He was warm and considerate, but a man that took care of business. He liked people and was friendly to anyone who spoke with him. A Baptist by faith, the Lord called this good and faithful man home from his many labors on January 2nd, 2018 in Muskogee, OK, with his loved ones gathered close by his side. He lived 89 years to the fullest.

He is preceded in death by his mother, father, brother Wallace Nelson and sister, Gloria Ann Stephens.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 66 years, Opal Nelson. He leaves his children, Gary Nelson and wife Cathy of Memphis, TN, Connie Jeffery and husband Steve of Park Hill, OK, Carol Fisher of Tahlequah, OK, and Lois Todd of Tahlequah, OK. He lives on in his six grandchildren, Lisha, Michael, Misty, Stephanie, Ashley, and Cody, and his eleven great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.