On February 12, 2011, Ervin Edward Nelson Jr., age 95, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, in his daughter’s home in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he lived for the past 8 months.
Eddie was an aircraft mechanic in WW II, and worked for the Corps of Army Engineers. He met, and married the love of his life for 59 years, Elizabeth Turnage, in Water Valley, Mississippi. After earning a degree in Civil Engineering from Ole Miss, he and Elizabeth moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1950. Eddie worked for the City of Phoenix and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Sacaton, Arizona. From 1991-2000, he and Elizabeth divided their time between Phoenix and Water Valley. In 2001 they decided to make Water Valley their one home.
Always involved in civic and philanthropic organizations, he felt it was important to help others and give back to his community. In Phoenix, he belonged to the Civitan Club, the Don’s Club, the Nomads, El Zaribah Shriners Greeter Unit, AARP, NARFE, and was very proud to be a charter member of Paradise Valley United Methodist Church. He belonged to the NARFE in Oxford, the Masonic Lodge and First United Methodist Church in Water Valley.
Eddie is preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth and survived by his daughter Frances Lax-Carry (Mike,) granddaughter Erin Lax-Robinson, and grandson Michael Lax, (fiancée Camber Johnson). He was blessed with many wonderful friends and we all will miss this warm, caring, humorous, fun father/grandfather/friend.
A memorial service will be held March 16 at 11:30am at the First United Methodist Church, 603 N. Main St, in Water Valley, MS. The family suggests contributions to First United Methodist Church or the Shriners Children’s Hospitals, (shrinershospitals.org.)