Billy James Nelson, age 86, passed away on February 5, 2025, at his home. He was born to Odis and Eadith Nelson on the Denison farm near Salado on July 8, 1938. He attended first through tenth grades at Cushman, AR, and finished his Junior and Senior years at Southside, where he was a star basketball player. He attended Arkansas College (now Lyon) from 1957-59, then joined the United States Marine Corps. In 1964, he returned to Arkansas College. Later, he earned a Master’s Degree in Education and a Certificate of Superintendent.
Bill taught school and coached basketball at several area schools, including Mt. Pleasant, Floral, Newark, Desha, Southside, and Oil Trough. He served as Principal at Floral, and Principal and Interim Superintendent at Oil Trough. He also worked for White River Planning and Development, White River Specialized Industries, the Education Co-Op at Melbourne, and had different positions with the Department of Human Services, including the Division of Youth Services and the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services.
He met Lucinda Weaver at Arkansas College. They married on May 31, 1964, and had sixty years of marriage. Bill always enjoyed reading, woodworking, mowing his yard, and riding his tractor.
Bill is survived by his wife, Lucinda, his daughter, Nancy Nelson, of Southside, his son, Dr. Byron Nelson (Dr. Maria del Carmen Sanjuan “Niki”) of San Sebastian, Spain, six grandchildren: Stuart Rush (Kristen) of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Brooke Nelson, Iban Clemente, and Ander Clemente, all of San Sebastian, Spain, and Evan and Mason Kelly of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He has one great-grandson, Colton Rush. Bill is also survived by a very special cousin, Sam Hurley. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Andrew Joseph Kelly, and his sister, Virginia Harrison (Charles). Bill considered himself a lifetime member of the Assembly of God Church in Cushman.
At his request, the body was cremated. A Celebration of Life will be Friday, February 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m. at the Qualls Batesville Funeral Service Chapel with burial in Pleasant Valley Cemetery near Cushman at a later date.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, The Humane Society of Independence County, or any charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Qualls Batesville Funeral Service.
