William (Bill) J. Nelson, Jr, 65 of Waskom, TX peacefully went to be with the Lord on December 16, 2023. Bill was born in Magnolia, AR on June 1, 1958, to William J. Nelson, Sr. and Catherine Ruby Nelson. Bill became a resident of Waskom in 2009 where he would remain and call Waskom his home.

Bill graduated from Woodlawn High School in Shreveport and later attended Southern University to earn his degree in respiratory therapy, a career that he was proud of and very good at. In his younger years, Bill became interested in scuba diving and later becoming a certified scuba diving instructor.

Other things that he found enjoyment in were traveling, especially to Disney; movies, his most favorites being Star Wars, Top Gun and Indiana Jones; and his President, Donald J. Trump.

Bill is survived by his sister, Jackie Watson of Bossier City, LA; sister Wanda Tharpe and husband Dennis of Waskom, TX; and granddaughter, PePaw's little girl, Lailah Spearman of Hot Springs, AR. He is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Brooke Michelle Nelson.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Waskom, TX on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 11:00 am. A graveside will follow at Restland Cemetery in Waskom. The family will have a visitation prior to the service, starting at 10:00 am. Officiating his service will be Bro. Ivy Shelton.

Pallbearers will be his nephews Chris Tharpe, Jeremy Watson, Gene Kent, Richard Baird, Justin Tims and Alex Tharpe. Honorary pallbearers will be his other nephews Taylor Tharpe, Landon Tharpe, Chase Kent, Austin Tharpe, Jake Kent, Cooper Baird and Ty Davy.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the amazing Baylor Scott & White Transplant Unit and Dr. Angelito F. Yango of Ft. Worth, Texas for their 16 years of love and care. Bill had a liver and kidney transplant and formed a special bond with their team over the years.