Festus D. Nelson was born on 9. Mar. 1904 at Bell County, Texas. He was the son of
Henry Carroll Nelson and
Laura Rosanah May. Festus D. Nelson married
Edith Pewitt on 15. Jan. 1931 at Waco, McLennan County, Texas. Festus D. Nelson died on 12. Feb. 1986 at Waco, McLennan County, Texas, at age 81. A Wood Family's Branches and Twigs
Contact: Kathy
I remember Uncle Fess most of all for the twinkle in his eye. He always seemed to pay close attention to what I said, no matter how trival it was. The following are things that I remember being told about Uncle Fess and Aunt Edith.
Fetus Nelson and Edith Pewitt were married in Bell County, Edith was a school teacher and loved children. They both wanted a large family. It was said that "Bell County couldn't keep any teachers because the Nelson boys would marry them and move off." Uncle Fess and Aunt Edith had one little girl named Venetta. After Venetta's birth the doctors told them that Edith had had complications and that having another child would probalby kill Edith. When Venetta was a very small she ate some green grapes and had an adverse reaction to the grapes resulting in her death. Uncle Fess told my granddaddy that he would never tell Edith becaus he thought she would blame herself for letting Venetta eat the grapes, I don't know if Aunt Edith ever knew.
Fetus and Edith Nelson owned Nelson's Feed and Hatcher in McGregor, Texas for many years. I remember hearing once after part of mill burned that Uncle Fess called someone to rebuild it and whomever he called had heard that Uncle Fess' insurance had lapsed and the mill wasn't covered for the loss. Uncle Fess was supposed to have told him to call his banker and verify that he had the resources to rebuild the mill. The man called the banker and it is said that the banker told him that if Fess Nelson wanted to build 10 mills that he could pay for them easily. You could never have told by the way they dressed or acted that they probably didn't live paycheck to paycheck. They both wore clothes that probably had for 20 years and Aunt Edith loved costume jewelry. She always wore "earbobs".
When my brother and I were younger, Uncle Fess would send us a dozen colored chicks each Easter. My parents would be depressed for days after the chicks came, we loved them but dad would have to build and pen and mom would end up watering and feeding the chickens. They were cute when they were little pink, blue, and green puffs of feathers.
Uncle Fess used to let me go into the incubator and watch as the chicks hatched. I remember how hot it was and how bad it smelled but I couldn't keep my eyes off of the little holes the chicks would peck at as they were hatching. Uncle Fess would stand for hours beside me watching me watch the eggs.
Aunt Edith loved for us to come visit. When we were young she would open up the coke case at the store and we would get a "free" coke. It always tasted better than any I had ever had. After I had my own family and would take them to visit Uncle Fess and Aunt Edith, he would watch the kids to see everything they would do and she would always want to pop popcorn for them.
When Uncle Fess died he had requested that his body not be kept at the funeral home. He wanted to come home one last time, so the casket was brought to the house and the funeral was held in the living room. My husband, Farrell, was one of the pallbearers. Uncle Fess and Aunt Edith are both buried in the McGregor Cemetery with Venetta.
Nespaper Obit, Moody Courier, Moody, Texas
Festus D. Nelson
Festus D. Nelson, 81, of McGregor, former owner and operator of a feed mill, died Wednesday at a Waco Hospital.
Services were held at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Nelson residence at Highway 84 and Windsor Road, the Rev. Larry Sullivan and chaplain Curtis Holland officiating. Burial was at McGregor Cemetery.
Friends were invited to Cole Funeral Home in McGregor from 5 p.m. Thursday until 1 p.m. Friday.
Mr. Nelson was born March 9, 1904, near Moody. He attended Moody schools. He and his wife, Edith, were married Jan.15, 1931. He was member of the Chamber of Commerce.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Mildred Venetta in 1936.
Survivors include his wife; and a brother, H. L. Nelson of Eddy.
The family has designated the First Baptist Church of McGregor or the M.O.C. Ambulance Associatin for memorials.