Gerald Eugene Nelson Sr - Obituary

Gerald "Jerry" Eugene Nelson Sr., 84, born February 16, 1940, received his Angel wings on Monday, September 30, 2024. Jerry was a lifelong resident of Panama City, Florida. He was a skilled businessman and carried out several ventures including Mozelle's Restuarant and Bay County Farm & Garden, both located in the heart of Millville. Jerry possessed, unarguably, the best negotiation tactics which he practiced regularly at local Flea Markets and vintage shops located around Panama City. He accumulated many interests, with guns, knives, and war memorabilia being his favorite things to collect. Jerry was a Merchant Marine and also served in the Army, allowing him to travel many places. He was a great storyteller and loved sharing stories about his life with people. He was a hard working man who never slowed down, even after his retirement. Jerry was looked up to and respected by all who knew him. He was a lover of all animals. He enjoyed feeding the birds and always had a few, more-than-healthy, dogs eager to greet him every morning. Jerry enjoyed helping others and helped many people in the community over the years. He wasn't one to sugar coat anything to spare someone's feelings and many people came to him for advice for this reason. He loved to read and the two books he recommended everyone read was 'To Hell and Back' by Audie Murphy and 'Jackie Cochran: An Audiobiography'. A lover of all food, his favorite homecooked meal was cubed steak and gravy with mashed potatoes, and he met with friends to tell war stories at least once a week at Gene's Oyster bar and New China buffet. It is worth mentioning that he was a die-hard Trump supporter and enjoyed listening to him speak and debate. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him and loved him. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents Myles Monroe Nelson, Sr. and Bertha Mae Bush Nelson; wife, Debbie Nelson (whom he claimed to share a lot of good times with); son, Ward Facer; brothers, Myles Jr., Charles, Fred, and Jimmy; sisters, Bertha, Barbara Ann, and Carol; and lifetime friend, Joe Attaway, (whom he should have written a book with detailing their many ventures over the course of their lives.) He is survived by daughters, Susie Nelson, Haley Nelson, Melinie Facer, and Stephanie Myers; sons, Gerald Nelson, Jr. and Bramblett Barfield; grandchildren, (Susie) Brandi Charette, Alexis Winsett, (Jerry Jr.) Gerald Nelson III, (Stephanie) Amber and Sara Myers; (Bramblett) Trinity, Breanna, and Jayce Barfield, great grandchildren, Izabella and Briley Charette; brother-in-law, Alvin Barry; sister in laws, Patsy and Betty Nelson. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, including Telisa Stall and Larry Nelson Allen, both whom he was very fond of.