Lewis Quinton Nelson

Lewis Quinton Nelson, 83, Denison, TX, passed away unexpectedly December 7th, 2022.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and faithful servant of the Lord.

Quinton was born November 17, 1939, in Sycamore, Georgia—the youngest of six

children—to Walter Chesterfield and Eunie Mauldin Nelson. He grew up working on the

family farm, attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated

from Sycamore High School in 1957.

After leaving Sycamore, he proudly served in the Navy from 1957 to 1962 but could not

wait until his commitment was over to marry the woman who had stolen his heart on a

blind date, the love of his life, Vivian Coffey. They married in 1961 and made their home

in Atlanta where they welcomed two daughters, Dawn and Holly. Atlanta is also where

he began his career in the can business, a career spanning 40 years, taking the family

from Georgia to Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida; and Quinton to Puerto Rico,

Venezuela, and other locations for consulting. He was a well-respected manager

because of his ability to step in and run any piece of equipment if needed, his desire to

improve processes which earned him two US patents, but mostly for his fairness to all

employees. Quinton ended his career in Denison as the plant manager for Sonoco

Products in 2002, giving him and Vivian more time for travel in retirement.

Quinton rarely went anywhere without Vivian by his side, traveling over the years to all

fifty states, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. His favorite vacation was a

2018 trip to Ireland with Vivian and his daughter, Holly where they made priceless

memories.

Quinton’s favorite pastime was woodworking. He took his joy of building things and

used it with the Parkside Men’s Ministry, crafting thousands of small wooden crosses to

share with others across the country and around the world. Whether you crossed his

path in the grocery store, at a gas station, a family reunion or the Texas State Fair, his

simple gesture of quietly sharing a handmade cross was his way of spreading the Lord’s

love.

Nothing was more important to Quinton than family. He loved and supported Vivian and

his daughters, and being a grandpa was a constant highlight of life in his later years. He

watched Ian, Allen, and Hannah grow from cute babies, to active teens, and mature into

successful adults. He could not have been prouder of their accomplishments, smiled

more when he saw them, or loved them any more than he did.

Quinton was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Eunie Nelson, and his

siblings, Grace Morris, Effie Mae Wynn, Stantley Nelson, and Durel Nelson. He will be

sorely missed and always remembered by his devoted wife of 61 years, Vivian Coffey

Nelson [Denison, TX], daughters Dawn Alsvary [Richardson, TX] and Holly (Duane) Sand

[Bismarck, ND]; grandchildren, Ian Alsvary [Dallas, TX], Allen Sand [Norfolk, VA], and

Hannah Sand [Fort Worth, TX]; and his sister Faye Gilley [Sycamore, GA].

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, June 16 at 2 pm at Bethel Baptist Church in

Sycamore, GA. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Bethel Baptist Church or a

charity of your choice.

Quinton will be remembered as a man of integrity. He was such a good and decent man.