Funeral Mass for Nixon Charles Nelson will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Joseph Chirayath officiating and burial following in the Springs Chapel Cemetery in Hugo, OK. Hap passed away Saturday, August 15, 2015 in Hugo, Oklahoma, at the age of 99.
Nixon Charles Nelson fondly known as "Hap" was born March 6, 1916 in Hugo, Oklahoma, to Julius Jethral and Josie (Locke) Nelson. His mother was an original enrollee of the Choctaw Tribe and Hap was very proud of his Indian heritage. His grandmother, Susan Allison was Choctaw and Chickasaw. His grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Locke, brother of Victor Locke, came to Indian Territory about 1870 to join his brother. He was a physician and pharmacist and reportedly one of the first servicing the Territory in the Antlers and Hugo area. It was interesting that most of his siblings had and went by nicknames. Starting with the birth order, Harold "Mutt" Nelson, Richard "Dittum" Nelson, Nixon "Happy" Nelson, June Collins, Mary Nelson King, Elaine "Tookie" Nelson Smith and the only surviving sibling, Michael "DJ" Nelson. He lived in Espanola, NM for 30 plus years. Hap worked in the oil field as a driller for Dalton Geo Physical Seismograph Company and Steinberger Drilling Company.
Hap married Erile "Bill" Baggett on November 20, 1993 in Nine Pines, OK.
He was preceded in death by his wife Erile “Bill” Nelson in 2005; brothers, Harold Nelson and Richard Nelson; sisters, June Collins, Mary King and Elaine Smith.
Nixon is survived by his step-children, Charles Baggett and Peggy Kaley both of Hugo, OK; brother, Mike Nelson of Showlow, AZ; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and his long time caregiver, Carolyn Jackson.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, August 19, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Rosary following at 6:00 p.m. in the Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Funeral Home.
Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book or send private condolences to the family at www.praterlampton.com.
