Bill Nelson of Cartwright, Okla., 70, passed peacefully at his home on May 28, 2024. He was born in Guthrie, Okla., in 1953 to Melvin Edward Nelson and Permelia Jane Helms Nelson both of Guthrie, Okla.
Bill attended grade school in Arkansas before his parents settled in Denison in 1959 where he graduated from Denison High School in 1972. He earned an Associates of Business Degree from Grayson County College a few years later then completed his journeyman training and became a Master Electrician. Bill was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 59), the NRA and scuba certified. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing, hunting, golfing, dancing, boating and playing poker with his buddies. Bill retired from GAF Gainesville and had worked previously for Alcoa, Embry Electric, Angiel Electric, Ling, Oliver, O’Dwyer Electric and CNF Electric and made many lifelong friends along the way. He shared his electrical knowledge at Grayson County College as an instructor for several years.
Bill was preceded in death by his father; mother; and brother, Philip Nelson of Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada; father-in-law, David Gaylon Poe of Denison, Texas; and brother-in-law, Charles David Poe of Denison, Texas.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Deborah ‘Debbie’ Ann Poe Nelson of Cartwright, Okla.; their only child, Tricia Leann Nelson of Bowie, Texas; mother-in-law, Tommie Lane Poe of Denison, Texas; sister in law, Marie Poe Petty of Denison, Texas; sister-in-law, Linda Poe Winter of Denison, Texas; four grandchildren: Haden Riley Sprabeary and Kailey Jade Sprabeary both of Sanger, Texas, Annaline Marie and Theodore ‘Teddy’ Rhett Sprabeary both of Bowie, Texas; many nieces and nephews, and too many friends to name.
A casual Celebration of a Life Well Lived will be held on Friday June 7, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at Fisher Funeral Home in Denison, Texas. Donations to Denison Public Library in Bill’s name would be greatly appreciated in lieu of flowers. Bill loved audio books of all kinds.
Arrangements under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service.