Lester Nelson Fuller, 72, of Austin, Texas, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, October 2, 2017, of complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Nelson was born in Galveston County to Lester and Marian (Bauer) Fuller on March 4, 1945. He grew up in League City, Texas where he graduated from Clear Creek High School in 1963. Nelson was football captain of the Wildcats, and was well-liked by his classmates, who awarded him King of the Den, Most Popular, and numerous other class awards. When they were small, Nelson and his sister would sneak out of their window in the early mornings to run across the field to breakfast at their grandmother’s house. They were close to their big group of cousins growing up, and Nelson’s family nickname was “Willie-Boy,” which he would use in some form or another as a password for the rest of his life.

Nelson and Sandra Vaglienti married in 1964, and divorced in 1984.They had two children, Stacy and Antone, who were the great joy of their father’s life. He took an interest in his children’s friends and welcomed them into his home. In high school, Antone’s heavy metal band not only practiced at the Fuller’s, but Nelson encouraged them to keep their equipment permanently set up in the living room. His patience and easygoing humor made his home a happy place to hang out as a teenager. Above all, Nelson had a deep love for living things and the natural world, especially children and animals. He made everyone feel important, and he made people feel that what they were interested in, mattered.

Nelson had a heart of gold. He loved in the most active sense of the word, and was generous with his time and energy: pitching in to help lift and carry, paint a house, or give money to a stranger. He showed up for the people he loved – he was the one who attended everyone’s performances, and he was the Biggest Fan, always saying it was the best performance he’d ever seen, and meaning it.

Nelson earned his bachelor’s degree in education at Southwestern University, and Master’s Degree in Education from Sam Houston State University. Nelson worked with the special education departments in many Central Texas school districts including Clear Creek ISD, Austin ISD, Georgetown ISD, Taylor ISD, and Lampasas ISD, as a bus driver, teacher, and educational diagnostician. His work with special needs students was extensive, and he made an impact on many lives during this time. He also worked as a real estate agent in his later years.

Nelson was a member of the Georgetown Church of Christ for many years, and later attended Celebration Church of Georgetown. In 2011, Nelson was diagnosed with dementia, and began his battle with what was eventually diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease. Nelson moved back to League City in 2012, where he lived with his mother following the death of his father. They were wonderful companions and participated in activities at the senior center, community events, the League City Historical Society, and the League City United Methodist Church. Nelson’s favorite pastime was dancing and he enjoyed attending dances with the Bay Area Singles Club. Eventually, Nelson was no longer able to live on his own, and in 2016 he moved into the Brookdale at Beckett Meadows facility in Austin, Texas, to be near his children and grandchildren.

Nelson was the one you could count on for a lot of things. His easy disposition, his way of making everyone feel like they mattered, and his giant, steady heart were all reflected in his behavior; the cornerstones of his character went like this: dance with every single wallflower, stop and read every historical marker along the way, never shirk a task, make your home a haven for your children and their friends, learn to two-step and do it every day of your life, and show up for the people you love.

“No cowboy ever quit while his life was hardest and his duties were most exacting.” (J. Frank Dobie)

The cruel way Alzheimer’s robs the most vivid people of their personalities is hard on families. Much of what made Nelson’s character ebbed away from the disease, but he danced still, and he still showed that giant, steady heart for people, even when he could no longer recognize them.

Nelson is survived by his mother, Marian (Bauer) Fuller and his sister, Andrea Dickerson (and spouse, Joe), all of League City; his daughter, Stacy Curtis (and spouse, James), son Antone Fuller (and partner, Michele Thelen), and grandchildren Cody, Hayley and Ryan Curtis, all of Austin; and numerous beloved uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held at Crowder Funeral Home in League City from 12-2 pm on Sunday, October 8, followed by a funeral service at 2 pm. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in League City.

Nelson’s family especially thanks the staff at Brookdale Beckett Meadows and the Brookdale Hospice team for the wonderful care they gave Nelson during the past year.

The family welcomes contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Brookdale Hospice.