Frankie Earl Nelms

Frankie Earl Nelms, 72, of Crossett, died Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at his residence. Mr. Nelms was a native of Montrose, a resident of Crossett for the past 15 years, and a former resident of Snyder for many years. After he graduated from Portland High School, Mr. Nelms joined the United States Army and served during the Vietnam Era. He started working in the logging industry with his father, John Nelms, and was working for Steve Bolin Logging, Inc when he retired.  Mr. Nelms was a member of the Cloverdale Assembly of God Church in Crossett. He enjoyed fishing, coon hunting, grilling outdoors, and playing a good game of horseshoes. As a devoted family man and all-around jokester, he loved to pick on his girls and would often “thump” them on the head, but his greatest love was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by a daughter, Emmily Marie Nelms in 1981; his parents, John Cecil and Emma Florence Streeter Nelms; five brothers, A.B. Nelms, Cecil Nelms, Leo Nelms, John Curtis Nelms, and Jackie Nelms and four nephews, Billy Dewayne Nelms, Terry Nelms, Benji Nelms, and Walter King.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Brenda Murphy Nelms of Crossett; four daughters, Karen Andrade of Monticello, Stacy Cessor and husband, Clay, of Halley, Brandy Thomas and husband, Sean, and Amy Anders and husband, Eddie, all of Crossett; three sisters, Betty Sue Shirley of Vaiden, Mississippi, Marcelle Buckner and husband, Jerry, and Kathy Greenwood and husband, Terry, all of Hamburg; 15 grandchildren, Kelsi Poe, Justin Earl Poe, Travis Earl Cessor, Trisha Cessor, Tori Cessor, Jacob Allen Thomas, Joshua Wayne Thomas, Sean Dylan Thomas, Lexi Hartley, Dawson Cole Hartley, Joshua Aiden Hickam, Harmoney Hickam, Rayna Catalanotto, Chase Brandon Starks, and Landyn Zane Anders and 18 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are 2 p.m., Monday, January 23, 2023, at the Cloverdale Assembly of God Church with Bro. David Williams and Bro. Ronnie McDonald officiating. Burial will be in Rolfe Chapel Cemetery. Pallbearers are Justin Earl Poe, Travis Earl Cessor, Jacob Allen Thomas, Joshua Wayne Thomas, Sean Dylan Thomas, Dawson Cole Hartley, Joshua Aiden Hickam, Chase Brandon Starks, and Landyn Zane Anders. Honorary pallbearers are Ricky Nelms, Ray Nelms, Mart Nelms, and Jamie Williams. Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202. 

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home.