Francis Nelson

BYRD FUNERAL HOME ON WEST MAIN

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Posted by: ByrdFuneralHome
www.byrdfuneralhome.com
334-793-3003
Date: Jun 29 2015 5:06 PM

Byrd Funeral Home

3409 West Main Street

Dothan, AL 36305

334-793-3003

www.byrdfuneralhome.com

Francis Nelson

Colonel (Ret) Francis Nelson, of Dothan, passed away Monday, June 29, 2015. He was 71.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bradley Rushing and his son, Jamie Nelson officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

Born November 17, 1943 in Ft. Rucker, he moved to Dothan with his family at an early age. He was a graduate Dothan High School, attended FSU, and received his BS degree in Business and Recreation Administration from University of New York. He was a 32° Mason, a former member of the Masonic Temple in Dothan and was also a Shriner while in Montgomery. He had a passion for fishing, enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Rebel Golf Group and the Dothan Country Club.

Mr. Nelson enjoyed a long career in the Alabama Army National Guard. He served as an Administrative Officer, Tour Officer, Recruiting and Retention Manager, Battalion Commander and Mobilization Officer. His military education includes Topographic Engineer Officer, Engineer and Quarter Master Advance Courses and Command General Staff College. He was the recipient of numerous awards including the Meritorious Service medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and numerous state awards retiring September 30, 2000 as Colonel.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clermon W. Nelson.

Survivors include his companion, Jane Nelson; his children, Rebecca Nelson, Jay Nelson, Joey Nelson, Jill Kelley and Jamie Nelson; grandchildren, Sonja Gaines, Kaylee Roedel, Summer Nelson, Jeremy Nelson, Tripp Kayser, Brody Nelson, Emma Nelson and Jacob Nelson; mother, McGartha Nelson; brothers, C. Wilton Nelson, Doug Nelson, Theron Nelson and Thomas Nelson; many nieces and nephews also survive.

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