Walter A. “Cotton” Nelson

Graveside services for Walter A. “Cotton” Nelson, age 80, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 2, 2001, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Don Stone, Minister of the White Deer Church of Christ, and Mike Suiter, Minister of the San Jacinto Church of Christ in Amarillo, officiating. Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Nelson died Saturday, September 29, 2001, in Claude. He was born February 3, 1921, in Wellington. He was a member of the 1939 Wellington Skyrocket State Championship Football Team and went on to play football as a Texas Tech Red Raider. His education was interrupted by World War II during which he served in the US Navy from 1941 to 1945. He returned to Texas Tech where he completed his degree and met and married his wife of 53 years, Mary Beth Dupree, on March 20, 1948. They moved to Amarillo in 1951 where he worked for National Gypsum Co. for 11 years and then the Amarillo ISD for 14 years. They moved to Clarendon in 1978 where he farmed and retired. He was a member of the Clarendon VFW Post 7782 and a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Rufus and Nona Ingram Nelson; a brother, Claude Nelson; and a son, Michael Walter Nelson.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Beth Nelson of Clarendon; three daughters, Janis Dudley of Hereford, Sharon Martin of Amarillo, and Jill Christal of Baton Rouge, LA; two sons-in-law, Mike Christal and Russell Martin; nine grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were grandsons Jared Christal, Todd Dudley, Tim Dudley, Tige Tackett, Chris Paddock, Anthony Mendez, Gabe Marinez; and sons-in-law, Mike Christal and Russell Martin.

The family requests that memorials be to Clarendon VFW Post 7782 or BSA Hospice.