Gerald Dean Nelson

SUN CITY WEST - Gerald "Garry" Dean Nelson, son of Muriel (Butler) and Everett Dean Nelson was born Jan. 12, 1939 in Woods County, Okla. He passed away peacefully at his home in Sun City West on the 5th day of Feb. at the age of 78 years and 24 days. And was laid to rest in Alva, Okla., beside Sue Jane, his wife of 50 years. He started school in Hopeton, Okla. and finished in Alva, Okla. graduating from Alva High School with the class of 1957. He attended and studied engineering at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva where he was an active member of the Army National Guard. This is also where he met his late wife, Sue Jane (Nickell). They married on Jun. 2, 1961 at Alva First Christian Church. To their marriage three children, Jim, Kristy and Kathy were born. Following their marriage, they made their home in Yale, Okla. where he worked in the oil industry for several years while co-managing his family's farmland in Hopeton, Okla. In 1980 he made a full return to his farming roots and purchased a farm southwest of Texhoma, Okla. in Sherman County, Texas. In 2014 he retired and spent his time between Creede, Colo. and Sun City West. He was preceded in death by his father on Oct. 23, 1973; and his mother on Jan. 12, 1995; his brother, Mack D. Nelson, Apr. 29, 1994; and wife, Sue Jane on Jul. 7, 2011. He is survived by his three children, Jim and LuAnn Nelson of Liberal, Kan., Kristy and Troy Irrer of Cumming, Ga. and Kathy Nelson Maynard of Nolensville, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Hannah and Halle Maynard, Morgan and Brooke Nelson and Paige Irrer; sister-in-law and her husband, Lynda and Terry Bixler of Waynoka, Okla.; and sister-in-law, Karen Nickell of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sister-in-law, Barbara Nelson of Alva, Okla.; several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Condolences may be made online at www.whartonfuneralchapel.com Contributions may be made in his memory to the First United Methodist Church of Texhoma, Okla. or to the First Christian Church of Alva, Okla.