Major Edward Nelson

Major Edward Nelson, age 77 of McAllen, Texas passed away on February 27, 2025. He was born on May 22, 1947 in Jackson, Tennessee to James Travis Nelson and Lida Carter. Major graduated from Jackson High School in 1965 and pursued his passion for technology at a technical school in Kentucky, where he studied computer electronics. His education led him to Dallas, Texas where he began his career at Collins Radio in Richardson. There, he worked on radio towers and components for groundbreaking space missions. Shortly after moving to Texas, Major met the love of his life, Linda Ann Smith at the dry cleaners where she worked. They dated for five years before marrying on March 9, 1973. Major’s career continued to evolve as he transitioned to Honeywell, working on large-scale computers, and later to SpaceLabs, where he specialized in medical monitoring. His dedication and expertise led him into management, a role he maintained as his career took the family to Lawrenceville, Georgia, where he and Linda joyfully adopted their son, Jared. The Nelson family later settled in Sammanisa, Washington near the Puget Sound with SpaceLabs, before moving into leadership positions at Siemens, ADIC, and NCR. After retiring, he found fulfillment in working in maintenance at Crossroads Bible Church. Major was a man of quiet strength, known for his gentle nature, friendly demeanor, and dry humor. He cherished lifelong friendships, many dating back to his Tennessee roots. While he didn’t always enjoy making decisions, he embraced adventure and had a wide range of interests. In his early years, he was a ham radio operator and a talented musician, playing guitar, clarinet and drums. A skilled builder, he often started ambitious projects—sometimes without finishing them once he proved he could. An aviation enthusiast, Major was also a private pilot and owned a small Cessna airplane. He found peace in fly fishing in the Seattle area and actively supported his son’s swim team as a referee. He was also a dedicated Cub Scout leader and an engaged Boy Scout participant with Jared. This love for the outdoors led them to hike various trails, including Mt. Si in Washington, the peaks in Oregon’s Three Sisters Wilderness. Mountain biking, fishing, and hiking were among his favorite pastimes. Major had a deep appreciation for music, enjoying classical, oldies, and country and western tunes. His life was filled with curiosity, passion, and a love for family and adventure.

He is preceded in death by his parents James and Lida Nelson.

He is survived by wife Linda Nelson; son Jared Nelson; grandchildren: Athena Nelson (14), Mikhail Nelson (6), Raphael Nelson (4), Gavriel Nelson (2); and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Graveside Service will be 2:00 PM Friday, March 7, 2025 at Restland Cemetery -Dallas, Texas

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