Roy Ray Nelson

On Saturday February 11, 2023, Roy Ray Nelson, loving husband and father of three children, passed away at the age of 75.

Roy was born on 5 February, 1948 in Hillsboro, TX to Marvin and Aline (Miller) Nelson. Roy graduated from WW Samuel High School in Dallas in 1966. Roy worked in commercial glass sales in DFW for 40 years. On September 8, 1973 Roy married Sheryl Ann Jobe. They raised one son, Randy, and one daughter, Tiffany.

Roy was into making extra money via side gigs before side gigs were even a thing. Throughout the 80s he had several small ventures along with his brother, Rex. These included buying console video games and systems (Nintendo and Sega) and making them available for rent in local, independent video rental stores. They also sold merchandise for several years at First Monday trade days in Canton.

In 1992, Roy, along with his brother Rex, started Nelson’s Fireworks. Over the next three decades it grew to be one of the largest fireworks retailers in the region. In 1999, Roy was described by one Star Telegram reporter as “the Mayor of Firecrackerville”. Nelson’s Fireworks has four indoor locations in the DFW area and is the largest seller of Black Cat fireworks in Texas.

Roy always had a passion for enriching kids’ lives. Beginning in the early 80s Roy coached the Comets, a youth soccer team. He also was an avid roller skater and you could often find him with a gaggle of kids on any given Saturday.

In the 1980s and 90s Roy was an active member of Harvest Baptist Church. Roy, along with Sheryl, would watch toddlers during extended session every Sunday. Roy was integral in helping set up the “Christ Lights” Christmas lights every year. Roy also volunteered extensively in the building of Harvest’s 2nd auditorium.

Roy enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and studying the life and times of his favorite inventor, Nikola Tesla. Roy was disappointed that the existence of aliens was never definitively proven during his lifetime. The question of aliens will be one of the first on his list to ask the Lord. Roy was preceded in death by his father, Marvin, his mother, Aline, and his brother, Ronnie. Roy is survived by his wife Sheryl; his three children, Ron, Randy, and Tiffany; his grandchildren Reese and Corbin; his sisters Martha and Polly and brother Rex; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.