Leslie O. Nelson

Leslie O. Nelson, 94, a former Miami resident, passed away in Newport, Tennessee, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Leslie was born on January 22, 1931, in Jay, Oklahoma, to Homer H. and Leah (Creason) Nelson. He spent most of his childhood living east of Grove near the Dodge community. From 1942 until 1945, he lived with his parents in San Francisco, California, where they were employed in the naval shipyards. From his home, he could see the Golden Gate Bridge, watching the ships sailing in and out to action in the Pacific. He attended and graduated from Jay High School, Jay, Oklahoma, then moved to Miami to attend NEO A&M College, during which time he met Shirley Stafford during a revival meeting at Narcissa Baptist Church. They were married on August 19, 1950. Leslie and Shirley made their home in Miami, where Leslie worked for B.F. Goodrich in the milling department of the East End of the tire plant. He mixed chemicals with the raw rubber to make different compounds for different types of tires and tubes. Later in life, Leslie was very ambitious about providing for his wife, Shirley. He would take any job that he could get, including mowing yards, painting, and helping his brother, Charles, in his business when needed. Leslie had a very strong conviction about his salvation, and he wanted to make sure that his boys followed his understanding. He was a very steadfast believer and always was the epitome of a father figure. He was always known to be easy-going and liked by everyone who knew him. Dad enjoyed woodworking and making objects that people enjoyed owning and looking at. He had a vast array of talent, including small carvings to wood turnings, to pieces of furniture. Many of the items that he made in his last years in Miami were donated to the First Christian church for their auction and usually sold very well and provided a lot of income for the church. His joy was being able to provide something that people enjoyed owning. He was very practical, so something that was not very practical did not come up on his radar to build or make. He was always a great neighbor to those who lived nearby, sharing his help and bounty from his garden. His green thumb continued until he moved to Tennessee to be with Mike and Robin in their home. Mr. Nelson was preceded in passing by his loving wife, Shirley Maxine Nelson; his parents, Homer and Leah Nelson; and his son, Leslie Steven Nelson. Those who will share Leslie’s memories are his son Mike Eugene Nelson and his wife Robin of Newport, Tennessee, his sister Lois Pitts of Jay, and a sister-in-law Helen Nelson of Spring Hill, Kansas along with his grandchildren Sarah Orcutt and her husband Evan and great granddaughter Maylee of Miami , Allison Henderson and her husband Tyler, and great grandchildren Romie and Asher of Rockwall, Texas and Nick Nelson and great granddaughter Maybell of Alcoa, Tennessee. Visitation for Leslie will be from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM, Monday, July 21, 2025, at the First Christian Church Chapel in Miami. Mr. Nelson's Service will begin at 2:00 PM with Minister Leon Weece officiating. Interment will follow at the Williams Timberhill Cemetery in Welch under the care of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mr. Nelson's Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

Leslie O. Nelson

January 22, 1931 - July 16, 2025