William Bryant “Willie” Nelson of Dexter, Missouri departed this life Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at the age of 92.

He was born in Dunklin County, Missouri on May 7, 1921, son of Sally (Lowery) Nelson and C. Douglass Nelson.

A former farmer, Mr. Nelson retired from the Swift Poultry Plant in Dexter after 30 years of service.  He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening and was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Dexter. 

He is survived by his wife, Doris (Killian) Nelson; a brother, Jackie Nelson of Dexter; a son, Danny (Donna) Nelson of Bloomfield; daughters, JoAnn Lloyd of Heber Springs, Arkansas and Susan (James) Jarrell of Bloomfield; and three step-daughters, Darla (Erik) Young of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Marietta (David) Obergoenner of Cape Girardeau and Velva Foyle of Dexter.  Also surviving are grandchildren, Shawn Lloyd of Dexter, Christal Thomas of O’Fallon, Missouri, Robert Christian of Bell City, Michael Lloyd of Heber Springs, Arkansas, Don Christian of Jackson, Missouri, Ladawn Northcutt of Dexter, Jennifer McGarrah of Heavener, Oklahoma, Justin Christman of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Whitney Broughton of Oxford, Mississippi, Jerimy Obergoenner and Jill Watkins, both of Jackson, Missouri; as well as several great-grandchildren and many relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a wife, Beatrice (Hunt) Nelson; stepmother, Nettie (Brewer) Nelson; two infant children; a sister, Mabel Nelson; a brother, Clarence Nelson; three nephews and a special brother-in-law, C. Curtis Hunt.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, June 21, 2013 from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. 

Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday, June 21, 2013 at 3:00 P.M. with the Reverend Kenneth Biggs officiating.  Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the First General Baptist Church of Dexter.