Obituary: Roy Nelson

dean from bozeman

dean from bozeman

Well-known member
I just found out that a great man and a great Model A'er Roy Nelson passed away today of a heart attack.

I last saw Roy at Hershey. He was happy and talkative as ever. His knowledge of Model A's was amazing as was his work on Model A parts. He is acknowledged in the Judging Standards and I am happy to say that he restored the poppout that is in A495.

There are many others who know Roy's contributions to our hobby better than I do. I just wanted folks to know about Roy's passing so they could add a story or two and include him in their prayers.

Roy was a great man, a positive man who I will miss dearly.

Dean
 
I saw him recently at a JSC meeting in Detroit, Always fun to talk to and a great sense of humor. I got the call today and I am in shock. I tried to think of how long I have known Roy and it has to be about 35 to 40 years.....boy am I lucky to have known him for so long, Roy was the kind of person that made this hobby so wonderful. He will be missed by so many,Ken
 
Roy Nelson was among my greatest friends. He was always pleasant and willing to share, and was always smiling. He would help me in ways that cannot be described and after going to great lengths to help me get something that I needed, would quietly ask me not to tell any one. It is not an exageration to say that Roy might have been the reason that I was able to get both Henry's. He would ferret out a particularly difficult part to find, then make sure that I knew the little details that would make it most presentable.

Between OshKosh and Marquette this year, Roy, Jim Brand and Dave Cella went way out of their way to help me prepare for the MAFCA event. On the morning of the show I had 'lost' the keys to the Panel Delivery and Jim Brand helped me find Roy to get me out of trouble . Roy had restored my pop-out switch and handles and had provided the NOS keys, and he was the only person that I could think of to ask for help. He had paid money to go on an all day boat cruise and when I called him he had gotton on the shuttle bus, and I could hear the other folks talking to him and asking him where he was going, and his reply was that he had to go help a friend. (this is hard for me to type!) When he showed up at the dome he had a sly grin on his face and looked like he was going to give me a hard time, but held out his hand and dropped the keys in my hand and when I looked up at him he had the widest smile I have ever seen on him. He had found them where we had parked our motor home.

After the Marquette event I apologized to those folks that went so far out of their way to help me for my bone head move of mis-stating the year on my windshield paperwork. Roy sat down with me and two other judges after the meet, as they had given us our score sheets that night, and it was their opinion that If they had factored in the date miscue and an obvious 2.4 point scoresheet error that we might have had a score of 496.6.

I do not not bring this up to complain, but only to honor Roy and those folks that helped me on this truck. and once I more apologize for my mistake.

Love ya' Roy!
 
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Yes Roy was a top notch friend, enjoyed judging with him many times and talking about A's. He will be greatly missed.

Scott
 
Roy was indeed a great person that was very willing to help others including me on several occasions. My son had the honor of judging with him at Oshkosh this past summer. Roy will be greatly missed by those who knew him!
 
As others have said, Roy will be sadly missed. I was shocked at getting the call last night. He always was great to work with at Nationals, as well as to learn from. Never was a dull moment when we got together!
 
This is such sad and shocking news. Roy was always such a happy, positive person to be around. You could always hear Roy in any crowd talking (and talking!) He was full of stories as well as great Model A information. It was such a pleasure to spend time with him at Oshkosh. I will truely miss Roy. No MARC meet will be the same without him. God bless you my friend.
 
Sad news... RockhillWill, is James Brand from Long Island, NY If so he used to stripe my cars at the Ford and Chevy Dealership where I worked, and striped my Model A roadster 20 years ago.... which I no longer have, is he on here?
 
Altough I had heard about Roy from Will on several different occsaaions, I only got to meet him at the National Events this summer. At the banquet in Marquette my wife was sitting close to him and as we were driiving back to the hotel she commented how nice a man he was and how comforatable he made her feel at the event. A true gentleman and a real loss to the Model A communty. If Model As exist in heaven, you can be sure that he will be helping everyone that needs a hand.

Hunter
 
There is way to much to say about Roy... From my first deal with him [mint roadster dash rail] to a restored side spare tire mount lock[2 months ago ] still horse trading with him. Many Hershey meets and spending a hour with him in my trailer shooting the **** at French Lick.Roy was the FIRST to stand up at French Lick award dinner and said Can't be,,, on my score... A very pleasant Gentlemen all the way...Another GREAT loss to the World of "A"s. Will Cronkrite could not of decribed the man any better.. THANK YOU
 
Out of nowhere Saturday morning I started thinking about Roy. I hadn't seen him this year (but visited by phone). Then I got a call yesterday evening with the bad news. I can't add to what others have said except to say I'm really bummed. :(
 
I just wanted to say how sad I was to hear of Roy's passing. Last March I stopped by this home to drop off some A parts for restoration. I thought I would be there for a half hour or so, but talking A's for over four hours. Roy loves to talk. He was a wealth of information. I have always enjoyed my time with Roy. This is a great loss to the A community. God Bless Roy and his family. Jim Sinclair
 
It's Marcy here for all of you posting your wonderful feelings about our great friend Roy I would like you to know I am printing out your sympathy and will give a copy to the family at the funeral on Saturday.
 
Roy was a little hard to get to know in the beginning, but I judged with him @ 4 nationals, and what a knowlegable fellow.. Roy will be sorely missed by all... I learned alot of information a person can not get from a book..God Bless you "Roy".
Roy will make Heaven a better place...Jay Pearcy
 
What can one say? We are heartbroken. Roy was always glad to see you and asked "how are you doing", well Roy, today not so good. There will be a big empty spot in the Model A family, but we are sure the coffee pot is on for you in Heaven.
 
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