Gayla Joan Nelson

Funeral services for Gayla Joan Nelson will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at the Alva Wesleyan Church with Pastor John Smith officiating. Interment will be in the Alva Municipal Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Gayla Joan Nelson, daughter of the late Thomas and Celesta Mary (Burnidge) Howell, was born September 1, 1937, on the family farm in Woods County, Oklahoma, and passed away June 27, 2015, at Derby, Kansas, at the age of 77 years, 9 months, and 26 days. Joan graduated from Alva High School. She worked as a bank teller at Central National Bank for several years. In January, 1987, she was united in marriage to Forrest Nelson at Bartlesville, Oklahoma. They made their home in Alva where she worked as a Deputy Clerk in the Treasurer’s office for over 40 years until her retirement. She was a member of the Alva Wesleyan Church and the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed quilting, attending football and basketball games, watching the Oklahoma City Thunder and going to the Senior Citizen’s Center. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Bill Wunschel. Joan is survived by her husband, Forrest, of Alva; two daughters, Connie Rutherford and husband, Rick, of Derby, Kansas, Kelly Miller and husband, Butch, of Bartlesville; one son, Billy Dimmick and wife, Lisa, of Alva; one step daughter, Diane Miller and husband, Bill, of Bartlesville; one step son, Danny Nelson and wife, Juli, of Fenton, Missouri; siblings, Jeanie Wunschel of Alva, Marion Howell and wife, Lyndell, of Alva, and Tommy Howell of Alva;, and Erlene Morehart and husband, Dennis, of Enid. Also surviving are grandchildren, Dana Bartel and husband, Andy, of Derby, Kansas, Mika Roark and husband, Sean, of Overland Park, Kansas, Brie Miller and Sam Miller, both of Bartlesville, Connor Dimmick and Sydney Dimmick, both of Alva, Shelby Adair of Alva; step grandchildren, Brock Nelson and wife, Hannah, of Kansas City, Missouri, Jared Nelson of Kansas City, Kansas, Amber Calhoun and husband, Brad, of Kansas City, Kansas, Kyle Kempf and wife, Megan, of Quincy, Illinois, and Chelsey Kempf of Bartlesville; great grandchildren, Peyton and Keagan Bartel, both of Derby, Kansas, Addalie and Tyler Adair; step great grandchildren, Karina, Kyler, and Kamiya Kempf, all of Bartlesville, and Corban Nelson of Kansas City, Missouri; other relatives and many friends. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Hephzibah Childrens Home.

Gayla Joan Nelson

March 1, 1937 - June 27, 2015