Richard Nelson

The world lost a kind and gentle soul on February 27, 2022 when Richard Henry Nelson passed away at his home in Kerrville, TX. Richard was born on June 27, 1962 in Tallahassee, Florida to Jim and Catherine Nelson. His father was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, which meant the family did not stay in one place too long. Besides Tallahassee, Richard lived in Atwater, CA, Maidenhead, England, Garden Grove, CA, and Warner Robins, GA before finally landing in Austin, TX when his father retired from the military. Richard attended Casis Elementary, Baker Middle School, O. Henry Junior High, and graduated from Austin High School in 1980. Richard attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development. Richard worked a wide variety of jobs in Austin, including at the Computation Center at UT Austin, as the facilities manager at St. Austin Catholic Church and School, and as the bailiff for Judge Jan Breland in Travis County Court at Law #6.

On one of the regular trips that he and his best friend Tup made to Kerrville, TX, Richard met a beautiful local woman who owned a bar. He and Kim Naredo soon fell in love and married in 2008. He was a loving and devoted husband to Kim and a wonderful stepfather to her son, Corey. Richard embraced life in Kerrville. You could find him either at work at the Plant Haus 2 or helping out at Kim’s bar, The Ol’ Waterin Hole. You could also find him at the Kerrville Folk Festival where he was a long-time volunteer.

Richard loved watching UT football and the Dallas Cowboys. He enjoyed the outdoors and took numerous hiking and camping trips. He loved listening to music and going to concerts. At home, you often would find him sitting in the backyard patio he designed and built. He gave his all to whatever he was interested in. He was loyal and unrelenting in his devotion to family and friends. He always looked for the silver lining in all situations, especially in the challenges he faced in the last few months of his life.

Richard had a wonderful sense of humor. Richard didn’t just tell jokes. His humor was always thoughtful, well planned, and purposeful. For example when they were teenagers, he and his brother Matt borrowed red cassocks from the Catholic church they attended and went to a halloween party dressed as the Spanish Inquisition. Richard also exchanged gag gifts with Matt every Christmas, including a bobblehead of himself inscribed “World’s Best Brother.”

Richard is survived by his wife, Kim Naredo and her son, Corey, his mother, Catherine Nelson, sister Mary Nelson and her husband Sandy Gilzow, brother Michael Nelson and his wife Liz, sister Pat Segura and her husband Edward, brother James Nelson and his wife Cathy, brother Matt Nelson and his wife Louise, brother Tom Nelson and his wife Whitney, and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.

 Family, friends, and everyone who knew Richard are invited to a celebration of his life at 1PM on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Kerrville Funeral Home, 1221 Junction Highway, Kerrville, TX.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home (830)895-5111