Byron Nelson

Byron R Nelson, born July 30th, 1917 to Fred and Beatrice Nelson, passed away July 15th, 2015 in Yakima, WA. Byron’s life was full and exciting. The family moved from Brush, Colorado to Chico, CA, prior to 1935. Life was hard as both parents were deaf mutes. Byron learned sign language at a very early age and has been an active signer all his life. Byron met and married Delores Van Gooden prior to WW2. Early in the war years he and brother Woodrow joined the armed services planning to fly; Woody did for the Navy and Byron kept planes in the air for the Army Air Corps while stationed at Paine Field in Everett, WA. In April of 1943, Monte Nelson was born, followed in 10 years by Vicki Nelson. The family was complete. In the early 1970s Delores passed away. Byron married Mary A. Dunn in Oroville, CA and began his career as a grandpa (Zona), a school bus driver, and an avid RV-er. In 1992 Byron and Mary moved to Zillah, WA to be near Mary’s family. Mary passed away in 2009. Byron is survived by six children, Monte Nelson, Vicki Nelson, Katie Dunn Berry, Jean Dunn Nelson, Richard Berry, and Russ Dunn, six grandchildren, Stephanie, Sarah, and Sue Berry, Mike and Chris Nelson, and Nicole Martin, and eight great grandchildren, Kyle and Ryan Williams, Averee and Paige Dillday, Sean and Nick Nelson, and Addison McGowan. When Mary passed away in 2009, she left Byron and many good friends, Mina Beth and many others, at Sun Tower. Zona (our name for Byron) will always be smiling and “dancing” his walker down the hall at Sun Tower - he loved music! We will be celebrating Byron’s life on his 98th birthday, July 30th, 2015 at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah, WA at 10 AM. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.valleyhillsfh.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Byron Nelson, please visit our flower store.