James P. “Jim” Nelson, 70, of Blasdell, NY and formerly of Warren, PA, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2019 at Highland Hospital in Rochester, NY. Born on March 24, 1949 in Warren, PA, he was the son of the late Emory M. and Gladys Dixon Nelson.
Jim was a 1967 graduate of Warren High School. He was a police officer in Warren for several years. He had owned and operated Pizza Villa in Warren and was instrumental in building the former Holiday Inn in Warren. Jim moved to Florida where he sold real estate. He then moved back to the Jamestown, NY area where he owned and operated Nelson and Butts Floral Co., Classy Baskets, and Sweet Street Candies. Following the death of his wife, Patty, he moved to Buffalo, NY, where he did private security for entertainers, including Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Jim is survived by his daughter – Kimberly Sealy and her husband, Dennis, of Erie, PA; his grandson – Kyle Argeny of Warren, PA; two brothers – Robert Duffy of Warren, PA and Marshall Ross Glass of Apollo Beach, FL; 1 sister – Kay (Ellsworth W. Jr.) Beckman of Bath, NY; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Urey Nelson, who died in 1998, and one sister, Betty Mascaro.
Friends may call at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East St., Warren, PA, on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 from 6-8pm. Services will be private and at the convenience of the family with Rev. Nancy Schwanke officiating. Interment will be in Maultby Cemetery in Grand Valley, PA. Those wishing to place a memorial may do so to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, P.O. Box 414238, Boston, MA, 02241-4238.E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com
It is with great joy that I remember the many wonderful times I spent with Jim and Patty during the 1980s and 90s, first as their lawyer in extricating Jim from the Holiday Inn and helping them purchase their Florist shop, etc., but then many delightful social encounters at their home in Lakewood and our home in Warren. He always had a funny but true story from his days as a Warren cop. But his true humanity emerged during Patty’s tragic illness and death. Jim and I lost contact after he sold N & B and moved away but he was a very special person in my life and I will miss his sardonic humor and skeptical insights. May he rest in peace.