Obituary of Paul J. Nelson

Paul J. Nelson, 67, of 2117 Gesaman Road Ashville, died Monday April 15, 2013 at UPMC Hamot Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He was born April 4, 1946 in Jamestown the son of the late Lloyd Nelson and Betty Warner Nelson Adams. Paul attended Southwestern Central School where he played football and volleyball. For the past 10 to 15 years, Paul enjoyed driving the Amish around the countryside. Earlier, he worked at Proto Tool, Matco Tool, and Adanlock-Jamestown Corp. He was a member of the Llama Club in Ashville; Ashville Fire Department; member and past president of the Chautauqua Lake Fishing Association; past member of Herman Kent Post 777 American Legion, Sons of the Legion; and Jamestown Moose Lodge. Paul played pool and was top shooter in the City of Jamestown Pool Leagues for many years; and he coached and umpired several area softball teams, including Ashville Fire Department and Nelsons Caf teams. Paul was a #1 Elvis fan and Dallas Cowboy fan. An avid hunter and fisherman, he lived for the start of the hunting and fishing seasons when he could go to his cabin or out to the lake to spend time with his family and friends. Family was most important to Paul or "Papa". Whether it was cooking breakfast, sitting on the front porch watching the grandkids play, or going to Stateline Speedway Saturday nights to watch his son race, he was always there for his family. He also enjoyed time with his friends; he was the life of the party. Surviving are his wife, Barbara A. Cline Nelson whom he married November 16, 1979; two daughters, Stacey (Dave) Stevens of Lakewood; Jennifer Nelson of Ashville; a son, P. J. (Rachael) Nelson of Ashville; seven grandchildren, Corey Reichardt, Alyssa Nelson, Taylor Stevens, Morgan Curry, Trenton Curry, Cole Nelson, and Brayden Nelson; a sister, Sharon Nelson of Lakewood; a brother, Bill Adams of Alabama; his aunt, Virginia Card of Celoron; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his step father, Kenneth Adams; and three brothers, Lloyd Nelson, Kenneth Nelson, and Rick Adams. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Lind Funeral Home. Peter Dawson, Fire Department Chaplain will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Ashville. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Ashville Fire Department, 5338 Stow Road, Ashville, NY 14710.