Jack E. Nelson

Jack Earl Nelson, Sr. –age 79, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2010. He was born December 6, 1930 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Knoxville. He was the only child of the late Reva and Claude Nelson. Jack is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Sanders Nelson; children, Cathy Nelson Campbell and husband, Dr. David Campbell and Jack E. Nelson, Jr. and wife, Karen Kessel Nelson; grandchildren, Jeffrey David Campbell, Christopher Jack Campbell, Matthew Kessel Avery and Kathryn Elizabeth Nelson. Jack was a fun loving guy, loving his family, his church, his work and was an avid fan of University of Tennessee Football and Basketball. He attended Christenberry Jr. High and was a 1948 graduate of Central High School. He was a 1952 graduate of the University of Tennessee with a BS in Marketing. Jack was a member of First Baptist Church of Knoxville where he faithfully served as a deacon, Sunday School Teacher to the 15 and 16 years-old boys and later served as Sunday School Director for more than twenty years. After graduation from college Jack enlisted into the United States Army serving on active duty for two years with fourteen months in Korea. When he returned from Korea, he served as a reserve member of the 3292 USAR School from 1956-1984. He retired as Colonel in 1984. Jack began his career in Auto Merchandising as a salesman with Knoxville Buick Company, later was owner of Jack Nelson Motors then returning to Leggitt Buick before buying the Oldsmobile-GMC Franchise in Lenoir City. Later he bought the Pontiac-Buick dealership becoming at that time one of the first dealers to carry four lines of General Motors automobiles in the area. He remained as dealer of automobiles for more than fifty years. Jack was the past treasurer of the Southern Oldsmobile Family Marketing Group-Atlanta Zone, past Regional Dealers Council Board Member, Past-President of Buick D.A.G. National Council, past board member of the Buick National Dealer Council, past treasurer of the Better Buick Dealers of Tennessee marketing group, and past member of the “Living The Vision” Board for Buick Motor Division. Mr. Nelson’s community service included Past President of the Lenoir City Civitan Club, District Lieutenant Governor of Civitan, past chairman of Loudon County United Way, past Chapter Advisor for Sigma Nu Fraternity, past vice-president and board member of the TVA & I Fair, past chairman of the East Tennessee Baptist Hospital Foundation Board and later Executive Board Member, past Director of the Bank of Loudon County, the Third National Bank and later board member of Suntrust Bank in Lenoir City and Knoxville. He was also a member of the University of Tennessee Presidents Club. The family would like to extend a special word of thanks to Dr. David Rankin and his office staff for their wonderful care and also to Carolyn Yeager for her many kindnesses and care. Pallbearers will be Jack’s grandsons, Jeff Campbell, Chris Campbell and Matt Avery along with David Campbell, Jack Nelson, Jr. and Charles Sanders, Jr. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Deacons of First Baptist Church of Knoxville, Frank Ambrister, Bob Davis, Jim Mack, Col. Tom Haynes (Ret), Dr. Earl Keister, Dr. Buck Williams, Dr. Bill Campbell, Allen Ware, John Testerman, Tom Tarver, Bill Galahar and Leslie Mirts. In lieu of flowers, the family requests for memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church of Knoxville, 510 W. Main St., Knoxville, TN 37902.

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Jack E. Nelson

December 6, 1930 - June 9, 2010