Nelson Walter Wesley

Nelson Walter Wesley was born on April 6, 1928, to Walter Clay and Zelma Elizabeth Wesley in Beggs, OK. Nelson entered into his eternal resting place on December 5, 2024, after a brief illness. Nelson was raised in Oklahoma, graduating from Excelsior High School in Cromwell, Seminole County, Ok. Following graduation, Nelson attended MSU in Wichita Falls, TX while working the dairy farm to pay for his room & board. Nelson was a veteran, serving in the army from 1952 - 1954 as a sergeant during the Korean War. He was stationed in New Jersey where he was an officer's cook. When asked why he didn’t cook for the family, he would always answer because he couldn’t cook for just 5 people, it had to be 50. He could make some delicious fried okra though. Nelson was married in 1958 to Nancy with whom he shares 3 daughters & 2 sons-in-law. They moved to Bartlesville in 1959 after Nelson attended the automotive school, Okmulgee Tech. He was a mechanic for Oakley Pontiac Buick until he became employed with Phillips Petroleum as a lab technician at the research center. Nelson was employed from 1962- 1993 where he earned many suggestion awards through the years, met many friends, and brought home many experiments to share with his family. Nelson was a kind, gentle, soft spoken, sometimes ornery man who was slow to anger, but quick to defend. He was a proud father and attended every extracurricular activity the girls were in, sometimes driving hours out of town just to see his girls. He always had his camera and took pictures everywhere he went. He especially loved taking pictures of his beautiful flowers. He had a great love of the outdoors, gardening for many years until his body wasn’t able to anymore. He loved to pick apples and eat them fresh off the tree. Nelson was also creative and artistic with wood, able to whittle small animals or build furniture. He had a love for animals, especially in his older years for his cats Casey and Annie. Nelson married Dorothy in 1990 and gained 2 sons and a daughter, their spouses and several grandkids. Nelson retired early and found a new job as an on-call grandpa to his many grandkids. Living to be 96, he saw the changing of generation after generation, and he shared an appreciation for them all. He loved the Lord, his family, and his country. Nelson was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He will be greatly missed by all who were ever privileged to know him. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy of the home; daughter, Angela and son-in-law Randy Santos; daughter, Patricia and son-in-law Stan Fouts; daughter, Hollie Carlson; stepdaughter, Shannon Pond and husband Floyd; stepson, Fred Bible and wife Elizabeth; and daughter-in-law, Melissa Bible. Nelson and Dorothy were blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Zelma Wesley; 4 siblings, Raymond Wesley, Wanda McGee, Malcolm Wesley, and Leona Simmons; son-in-law, William Mozingo; son-in-law, Kyle Carlson; and stepson, Donald Bible.

Nelson Walter Wesley

April 6, 1928 - December 5, 2024