Cary Dean Nelson

Cary Dean Nelson, 69, Columbia, MO entered into heaven on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Cary was born in Topeka, Kansas on February 2, 1956, to Don and Shirley (Fakler) Nelson. 

Cary lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri during his life.  He was a resident of Woodhaven in Columbia, MO for over 53 years.  Cary was a dapper gentleman proudly sporting his trademark hats, suspenders and beautiful smile whenever he was out and about, and brought a lot of joy to so many.  The devoted daily care of his Woodhaven staff made it possible for Cary to thrive and be the best that he could be.  In his younger years, he enjoyed riding his bike around the Woodhaven Campus.  He was a Cub Scout and he also competed in the Special Olympics.  Cary graduated from Woodhaven Learning Center, and was later employed at Central Missouri Subcontracting Enterprises. He took pride in his work but was happy to retire after 27 years of employment. 

Cary really enjoyed celebrating the holidays, especially Christmas, Easter and his birthday. He was a member of Brentwood Christian Church. Cary’s favorite things were Pepsi, Pringles, pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, vanilla ice cream, going to coffee with his staff, the American flag, going to Springfield on vacation to visit his family, and getting weekly Sunday phone calls from his mom. He loved receiving mail from his family and friends, especially the daily letter he would receive from his mother.  Cary’s extraordinary gift to this world was that he was nonjudgemental of others. 

Cary’s immediate family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and many cousins gave him a never-ending circle of love and attention.  Church friends, neighbors, medical professionals and community volunteers added their kindness and care in so many ways. 

Cary was preceded in death by his father, Charles Donald Nelson.  He is survived by his loving mother, Shirley Nelson, Springfield, MO, his devoted sister and brother-in-law Christine Nelson-Jordan and Robert Jordan (aka Santa Claus and The Robert Express), Broken Arrow, OK, Uncle Dr. Joe Fakler and Aunt Ruth Fakler, Concordia, KS, Uncle Roy Fakler, Beatrice, NE, and many cousins. 

His family would like to express their gratitude to Cary’s entire Woodhaven family and his dedicated home staff who loved and cared for him for so many years.  Cary was able to live with dignity and have a fulfilled life due to the excellent care he received.  

A celebration of life will be held at Woodhaven on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., and at Brentwood Christian Church, in Springfield, Missouri on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

Woodhaven, 1405 Hathman Place, Columbia, MO 65201.  https://www.woodhaventeam.org/

Brentwood Christian Church, 1900 E Barataria St., Springfield, MO 65804  https://brentwoodchristianchurch.com/

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cary Dean Nelson, please visit our floral store.