Seven people were killed in a Wyoming plane crash on Friday, July 26, 2024, including three members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame group the Nelons.
The plane was en route to Seattle, where the Nelons had planned to join the Gaither Homecoming cruise, when it crashed near Gillette, Wyoming.
The Nelons evolved from the family gospel group the Rex Nelon Singers, with membership changing over the years before settling into the current incarnation of Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband, Jason Clark, and her daughters, Amber Nelon Kistler and Autumn Nelon Streetman. Their songs include “Come Morning,” “We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown,” and the Dove Award-winning “If God Pulled Back the Curtain.”
Streetman was not on the plane, and she survives. Here are the names of those who died:
Kelly Nelon Clark, 64. She began singing gospel with the LeFevres as a teenager, then joined her father’s band, the Rex Nelon Singers. After her father’s death, she continued the group, taking the helm and renaming it the Nelons. We invite you to share condolences for Kelly Nelon Clark in our guest book.
Jason Clark. He joined the Nelons in 1997, becoming the group’s lead singer. In 2001, he and Kelly Nelon Clark were married. We invite you to share condolences for Jason Clark in our guest book.
Amber Nelon Kistler was Kelly Nelon Clark’s older daughter. She began singing soprano for the Nelons in 2002. We invite you to share condolences for Amber Nelon Kistler in our guest book.
Nathan Kistler was Amber Nelon Kistler’s husband.
Melodi Hodges was a family friend to the Nelons and served as the band’s assistant.
Larry Haynie was the pilot of the plane. He was also chairman of the Georgia Board of Corrections.
Melissa Haynie was Larry Haynie’s wife.
Many people have shared tributes to the Nelons on social media:
Full obituary: The New York Times
