Ford R Nelson, Jr. passed quietly with family at his bedside on November 14th, 2012. A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm Tuesday, November 20th, 2012 at Village Presbyterian Church located at 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS, reception to follow.
Ford R. Nelson, Jr. was born to Ford and Mary Conley Nelson on November 7, 1942. After WWII, and the return of his father from service in the Army Air Corps in 1946, the family moved back to the family home in Leawood, Kansas. Except for College, Law School and military service, Ford spent the rest of his life in the Kansas City area. His schooling started with Corinth and Somerset Schools and was followed by the burgeoning Shawnee Mission system at Indian Hills Junior High, Shawnee Mission high school and finally a proud member of the second graduating class of Shawnee Mission East High School in 1960. Ford attended the University of Missouri Columbia for undergraduate and law school. During undergraduate school he became a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, which resulted in many lifelong friendships.
Immediately following college he entered the U.S. Army and was based at Ft. Dix, New Jersey, Ft. Benning, Ga., and Ft. Bragg, NC, prior to his deployment to Vietnam as a MACV infantry advisor. He was honorably discharged upon his return to the United States in 1970. His primary award was the Combat Infantry Badge. After his return, he was introduced to his future wife, Carolyn and in 1973 Ford and Carolyn were married at Leawood Presbyterian Church. That union bore one son, Thomas G. Nelson in 1976. After his discharge, Ford commenced his legal career with the firm of Dietrich, Davis, Dicus, Rowlands and Schmitt (now Armstrong Teasdale LLP) which spanned 40+ years. One of his early mentors was the former Mayor Ilus W. Davis who impressed upon him the importance of giving back to your community. That began with the Downtowners and continued through participation on the boards of many local organizations: Friends of the Zoo Board Member, Citizens Association of Kansas City( past president), Rotary Club of Kansas City [Club 13] (past president 2010-2011) and Paul Harris Fellow, The Nature Conservancy (Missouri Chapter), Downtown Council, KIPP School Board, KC Beta Theta Pi Alumni Association (past president) and Beta Man of the Year, UMKC Beta Theta Pi Housing Corporation 25+ years (including past president), Leawood Presbyterian Church , Trustee and Elder. In addition to his civic and community activities and duties, he coached his son in sports activities, including Brookside Soccer. Ford developed a real passion for soccer and enjoyed traveling to watch Tommy compete on premier teams, at Rockhurst High School and Rockhurst University.
The joy of his later life was time with his wife and his grandchildren, Jack, Kate and Mallory, whose parents are Tom and Erin Nelson (nee Dougherty).
He was preceded in death by his Parents and his sister, Katherine Smith of West River, MD. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, of the home, son and daughter-in-law Tom and Erin Nelson of Leawood, KS, grandchildren, Jack Thomas Nelson, Kate Marie Nelson and Mallory Lynn Nelson, brother-in-law Scott Smith, West River, MD, Sister-in-law, Kathie Jarva (Ken) Greenbelt, MD, and many cousins.
In lieu of flowers, he suggested donations to one or more of the organizations with which he was involved:
Rotary Youth Camp c/o Kansas City Rotary Club, P.O. Box 412457, Kansas City MO 64141
The Nature Conservancy (Missouri Chapter) 2800S Brentwood Blvd, St Louis MO 63144.
The Friend of the Zoo, Inc, Kansas City 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City MO 64132.
Source: http://nbcactionnews.tributes.com/show/Ford-R-Nelson-94743864
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