Toomer

James Nelson Toomer was born on Sept. 28, 1928. He was the fifth child born to John and Millie Toomer.

Nelson is preceded in death by the love of his life Nita Jean Toomer; his parents, John and Millie Toomer; brothers J.C. and Howard Toomer; and sisters Gladys Studensky and Annie Beck.

He is survived by his daughters, Brenda Martino, Kim and Mike Hobbs, Thana and Willie Robinson, and Sherry Boothe; seven grandchildren, Tisha Hobbs, Dawn and Aaron Melde, Kacie and Clayton Cargill, Keeley and Dustin Paul, Kassie Wilson and Chris Ray, Korey and Samantha Boothe and Jacob Martino; 19 great-grandchildren, Colton Michael, Cadyn, Tyler, Brady, Blake, Colby, Colton Chase, Kloie, Kynlie, Cayson, Kennedy, Dylan, Hudson, Hayden, Kylie, Landyn, Kimberlyn, Rylan and Ryder; two great-great-grandchildren, Copelyn and Avery; and one sister, Rea Barnes.

Nelson married Nita Jean Pinkerton on Mar. 3, 1951.

He served in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1956.

He and Nita Jean settled in Thorndale and raised their family primarily in the Salty community.

He worked at Alcoa for 37 years and took care of his ranch when he wasn’t at work.

One of his greatest joys was watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren play sports, especially baseball and softball. He also loved taking them for rides on the tractor, feeding the cows and catfish, looking for arrowheads and interesting rocks, and educating us all about coins.

His great-grandchildren brought him much joy and he looked forward to being their taste tester for their pies, cakes and cookies they would enter in competitions. He was so proud of their blue ribbon pies which helped fill that sweet tooth that he and Momma passed on to us all.

He gladly shared his knowledge and love of gardening and arrowhead hunting with all grandkids and great-grandkids.

He looked forward to his grandson in-laws’ visits and always managed to have a list of projects written down on the back of an envelope for them and son-in-law Mike to do in their spare time.

He lived his life by the golden rule, and though he seldom attended church, he was one of the most godly men you’d ever meet. His Bible was duct-taped together and had been read many, many times. He said several times that he felt closer to God when he was outside, walking the pasture.

We will miss his envelopes on our birthdays and Christmas, his prayers, his big toothless grins and heartfelt good mornings. But mostly, his unconditional love and words of wisdom.

As he has told us all, grief isn’t something you get over. It’s like a scar, that never goes away but fades with time. As the years go by you adjust and the good memories will always be there. Thanks to him, we have lots of good memories to share.

He has passed the greatest legacy we could ever have, unconditional love and the peace that comes from knowing God.

In lieu of flowers, Nelson and his family requests donations in his name to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, P. O. Box 1525, Ranson, WV 25438 or to a charity of your choice.