Alice Gertrude Nelson

Alice Gertrude Nelson,88 of Sapulpa went to be with the Lord on Sunday afternoon, December 15, 2019. She was born to Grant (Boss) and Gertrude Ruth Hankins Watkins on April 4, 1931 at the family home.

In 1949, Alice graduated from Kellyville School. She was a star basketball player and participated in school activities especially anything involved with cooking.

Alice met her future husband while working at Hawk's Dairy Ice Cream Parlor. Albert Nelson and Alice were married on November 4, 1950. They enjoyed 66 years together with Albert's death on September 30, 2016.

In 1950, Albert joined the United States Air Force and served for 21 years. The family lived on military bases at Lake Charles LA, Bunker Hill, IN, Austin, TX and Minott, ND and returned to Sapulpa.

After Albert's retirement, he served as Associate Pastor of Sapulpa Nazarene Church. Alice supported and worked beside him in his ministry and in any position she was needed.

Alice worked at several jobs but enjoyed her years as cafeteria manager at Lone Star School. She loved being with all ages of children and encouraged each one to eat balanced meals.

Alice enjoyed life, family & friends. She and Albert were great supporters of the grandchildren and great grandchildren's activities, especially baseball, basketball, and football.

She was always busy with gardening, flowers, canning, cooking, sewing, crocheting, fishing, traveling, playing Rook or any other games. She and Albert loved spending time at Lake Hudson, fishing and being with their friends and spending their winters at Donna, Texas, fishing, playing games, and visiting with those friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Boss and Gertrude Watkins; husband, Albert Nelson and his family, Ed & Lottie Turner Nelson and Al and Allene Nelson Giese; siblings, Sam Watkins and wife Minerva, Wanda Crumley and husband Walton, Dan Watkins, Naomi Vaughn and husband Joe, and half-sister June Rose Watkins.

She is survived by her daughter, Yvonne Byard and husband Steve; son, Stephen Nelson; grandchildren, Stephanie Barnes and husband Brian, Eric Byard and wife Melissa, Daniel Nelson and wife Anna, Shelby Sager and husband Charles; great grandchildren, Dalton Barnes and wife Leslie, Drake Barnes, Abby Barnes, Kyla Byard, Brittan Byard,  Beau Nelson and Allie Nelson; great- great granddaughter, Emmerson Barnes, siblings; Phyllis Enlow and husband Bill, Betty Seanard, Grant Watkins and wife Pat, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 6-7pm Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at the Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Services will be 11:00am Thursday, December 19, 2019 at the Sapulpa Nazarene Church 302 South Elm.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home 1208 South Main in Sapulpa.