Fay Nelson, Great grandma, grandma, mom, sister, wife, friend and child of God.  Fay went home on Friday, August 1, 2014 at Ava Maria Village in Jamestown, ND. 

She was born Leatha Fay Simms on January 12, 1931, to Robert and Beatrice Simms in Canton, Texas.   

Fay was first married in 1947 to Fred Esch and had 4 children, Fred, Michael, Debbie and Lee.  She remarried in 1961 to Bud Nelson in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and had 3 more children, Tim, Esther and Philip.  They moved to Sykeston, ND, in 1975.  All of her children are still living and reside in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Ohio and North Dakota. 

Fay was a licensed minister and together with Bud loved sharing Christ with anyone they could.  Together they raised seven children.  Fay worked outside the home for a few short years, but her joy was being a loving mom and wife and sharing Jesus.  She was always willing to help and to give to those in need.   She was active in recent years in Jamestown, ND, leading bible studies and teaching in small group settings up to her death.  Even though she was in a wheel chair and receiving dialysis twice weekly she continued to live life to the fullest with help from family and friends.

Fay is survived by her six sons, Rev. Fred (Regina) Esch, Sandsprings, OK, Mike (Marie) Esch, Valley City, ND, Lee Esch, Jamestown, ND, Tim (Vicki) Nelson, Collinsville, OK, Philip (Teresa) Nelson, Siloam Springs, AR, and Mike Nelson, OR; two daughters Deborah (Stephen) Avants, Shelby, OH, and Esther (Marlin) Smith, Minot, ND; 18 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren; a brother Robert Simms, TX.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Myron “Bud” Nelson, her parents and one brother.

FUNERAL SERVICE:

Evans Funeral Home, Carrington, ND

DATE AND TIME:

Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 2:00 PM

BURIAL:

Carrington Cemetery