BETHANY, MO: Max L. Nelson, 88, Bethany, passed away Wednesday, August 17th at Crestview Nursing Home. He was born April 17th, 1934 to Fred & Grace (Foster) Nelson in Maryville, MO.
Max was a 1952 graduate of Horace Mann High School in Maryville, where he also attended Northwest Missouri State University. After spending time working on a ranch with the Todd family in Montana, Max returned and married Judith Shipley in 1959. Following a few years working a small acreage near Bolckow, MO, Max and his brother Dale bought Trail Valley Ranch just South of Mt. Moriah, MO in 1965. It is there he raised his two sons who worked with him over the next 15 to 20 years. Max reinvented himself by becoming a Real Estate broker in 1978. After operating his own independent agency, Golden Eagle Real Estate, Max opened the first United Farm Agency office in the area in 1985. Over the following years, he was often a ‘Top Ten Performer in Sales’ for the company nationwide. Max enjoyed old country music, watching westerns and sports, raising horses and competing at horseshows along with his sons, growing vegetables, and fishing with his brothers, but mostly spending time with his companion, Verlene, dancing and enjoying Texas in the winter! He also dearly loved his family from his brothers and sister to all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Grace Nelson; sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Calvin Boyd; brother, Charles Nelson; sister-in-law, Sharon Nelson; and wife, Judith Nelson.
Survivors include his companion, Verlene Vance, Maryville; sons, Todd Nelson (Tami), Hays, KS and Tony Nelson (Brenda), Bethany, MO; grandchildren, Toni Whitmer (Benjamin), Hays, KS, Tyler Nelson (Shante), Hays, KS, Garrett Nelson (Tiffany), West Des Moines, IA, and Bradley Nelson (Melody), Clive, IA.; great grandchildren, Layne Whitmer, Molly Whitmer & Elijah Whitmer, Hays, KS and Gracie Mae Nelson, Clive, IA; brothers, Wayne Nelson (Janice), Maryville, MO, Dale Nelson, Springfield, MO, David Nelson (Susie), Ravenwood, MO and James Nelson (Joyce), Albia, IA; and sister-in-law, Kathy Nelson. He also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 27th at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. Burial will follow at Miriam Cemetery, Bethany, MO. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 26th at the funeral home where friends may call after noon Friday. Memorials may be made to the Miriam Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home P.O. Box 46 Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com