Obituary of James M. Nelson

Rev. James M. Nelson, 78, passed away at 12:21 AM on Friday, November 18, 2016, at the Brookville Hospital. Rev. Nelson was born on March 14, 1938, in Titusville to the late Merlin and Freda Davenport Nelson. He married Audre` L. Williams on September 10, 1960, in Youngsville. Mrs. Nelson preceded him in death on July 31, 2012. He was a graduate of Pleasantville High School, class of 1956, and Clarion State College in 1960. Rev. Nelson served and started many churches during his pastoral career beginning with the Little Cooley EUB. He then founded the Pleasantville Community Church. Later he moved to Hanover, PA where he pastored the Otterbein Evangelical Church and founded Christ Evangelical which later merged and became Hanover Wesleyan Church. While in Hanover he also drove school bus for 11 years. He moved to Ohio where he served the Coshocton Christian Tabernacle. Finally, returned to his hometown, he finished his ministry at the Pleasantville Community Church where he retired in 2011. Along with being a pastor he also served as an evangelist traveling around the country with his family to churches and camp meetings spreading the word of his Lord and Savior. Rev. Nelson was also one of the founders of the Association of Evangelical Churches. Jim played basketball and baseball at Pleasantville High School and loved sports his entire life. He had a musical gift and could play the accordion/cordovox, trumpet, piano, banjo and guitar. Jim and his wife passed the love of music along to their children who always knew that family came first and then ministry. He also enjoyed writing poems and incorporating humor into life when possible. Rev. Nelson is survived by 4 daughters, Jamie Stright and husband William of Warren, Julie Beers and husband Rev. Jerome “Jerry” of Hanover, Jodie Truex and husband Rev. Jon of Washington Courthouse, OH, Jonie Smitley and Rev. Timothy, Sr., of Spring Creek; 13 grandchildren, Hannah Stright, Josiah Beers and wife Megan, Jael Beers, Jerome Beers, Jesse Beers, Jeremiah Truex, Kiirsten Truex, Lauren Truex, Mackenzie Truex, Natalie Truex, Timothy Smitley, Jr., Rachel Smitley, Levi Smitley; 2 great grandchildren, Zephaniah and Selah Beers; 2 sisters, Joyce Bloom and husband Fred of Titusville, Carole Weber and husband Kenneth of Pleasantville; a brother, Robert Nelson of York; 2 brothers-in-law, Rev. G. David Brooks and wife Betty of Erie, Vincent Williams of Jamestown, NY; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the Pleasantville Community Church 343 W. State St., Pleasantville, PA 16341 on Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM and on Tuesday from 10 to 11 AM with the service to follow conducted by Rev. Allen Young of the East Smethport United Christian Church and Rev. Shawn Jacobson, pastor of the Pleasantville Community Church, officiating. Interment will be in the Westview Cemetery, Warren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasantville Community Church 343 W. State St., Pleasantville, PA 16341, Hanover Wesleyan Church 701 Blackrock Rd., Hanover, PA 17331, or to Association of Evangelical Churches c/o Allen Young, P.O. Box 95, East Smethport, PA 16730. The Hanover Wesleyan Church will incorporate a memorial tribute to Pastor Jim during their service on Sunday, November 27th at 9:30 AM.