Andrew "Andy" Nelson

Andrew (Andy) Nelson, 81, of Gulfport, MS, passed away from Mesothelioma on Thursday, June 21, 2012. Andy was born on March 31, 1931, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He loved adventure and joined the Navy in 1951 to travel the world. He married Grace Jacobs in 1954 and they had 2 daughters, Gail Louise and Andrea Lynn. In 1974, Andy and Dorothy Dell Murphy were married. They lived in New Jersey until 1993 when Andy retired from Bristol-Myer Squibb and they returned to Dorothy's home state of MS. Andy soon learned to appreciate the warm climate, trading in his snow shovel for an electric generator to survive the Gulf Coast's tempestuous weather. Andy and Dorothy frequently traveled to visit their family and life-long friends; Andy recording every mile and stop along the way. In 2001, they fulfilled a life-long dream to travel to Denmark, where Andy's family originated. Andy was an electrician by trade and a staunch supporter of Unions and worker's rights.
Andy is survived by his wife of 38 years, Dorothy Dell Murphy; daughters Gail (John) Andru of Boulder, CO, Andrea Kara of Englishtown, NJ, and step-daughter Paula (Frank) Spinale of Blythewood, SC; sister Carole (Don) Yetman of Sayreville, NJ; grandchildren Timothy (Susan) Kipp, of Fallston, MD, Joshua (Janis) Kipp of Tucson, AZ, Pam (Nick) Noto of Old Bridge, NJ, Kelly Kara of Englishtown, NJ, and Dillon Cohen of Charleston, SC; great-grandchildren Wyatt and Austin Kipp of Fallston, MD.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road in Gulfport.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at 11:00am, with a visitation beginning at 10:00am in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport.
For more information, please call (228)539-9800.