Phillip LeRoy Nelson Sr.

March 27, 1958 - October 22, 2018

Thanking God for letting us be blessed with him in our life...As our family gathers, near and far to mourn the loss of my brother, Phil Nelson, Sr., we thank everyone for their good wishes, condolences and prayers. God bless you all, and God speed to my brother! Phillip LeRoy Nelson, Sr. was born March 27th, 1958 in Killeen, Texas to Edward F. Sr. & Rosalind M. (Beach) Nelson. He was baptized as a child, keeping his strong Christian belief, where he drew strength. Phil traveled the world with his family, (military father) where he saw many cultures & the beauty of different countries. Phil proudly served in the U.S. Army, married 3 times and was blessed with 5 children. Phil's talents were so diverse & exceptional as he could accomplish any musical instrument, his painting drawings and artistic talents were unique. He was an accomplished custom tattoo artist in the local area, with his sister & brother in law, Deb & Gene Bess at Firehouse Tattoos, then established Blue Rose Tattoo Studio, and then later worked with his brother Frank Nelson, at Amazing Tattoos. Phil also chiseled the Waynesville hill Frog, "W.H. Croaker" in Waynesville, helping found Frog Days in Waynesville, MO. His love for art & history helped spark many awesome works. Phil had a big heart and knew no stranger. He had friends from every walk of life, and saw them as family. Always with a warm smile and big hug. He wore many "hats" in his life, from cooking, working the oil fields, soldier, artist, musician, EMT, and many others. His greatest accomplishment was being a great human being! He believed that the love of family is life's greatest blessing. Phil passed away at home, on October 22, 2018. He was 60 years old. Gone way too soon! Those that preceded him in death, were his paternal grandparents: LeRoy and Iva J. (Whitsell) Nelson; maternal grandparents: Fredrick Sr. and Minnie (Allen) Beach; parents: Edward F. Nelson Sr., and Rosalind M (Beach) Nelson; two brothers: John and Charles Manassa; aunt: Betty Lee; and uncles: Donald Beach, Sr. & Fredrick Beach. He leaves to cherish his memory, his uncle: Lee Nelson and his family; his brothers: Mike Manassa & family, Edward F. Nelson, Jr. & family; sister: Debra & Gene Bess and family; his children: Phillip L. Nelson, Jr. & family, (twins) Dell Marie Nelson & Gail Cherie Hughes and their families, Sunshine Rose Nelson & family and Virginia Rose Nelson and family; his cousins, nieces and nephews, and a host of friends he saw as family.