Funeral services for Nelson Clay Starnes, 85, of Beaumont, TX, will be held March 20, 2010, 3:00 p.m., in the Claybar Kelley-Watkins Chapel in Beaumont, Texas with interment to follow in Knupple Cemetery in Silsbee, TX. Serving as pall bearers will be his grandsons, Chip Richardson, Joe Cropper, Cooper Starnes Reaves, Christopher Sanford, Jon Holt, and Josh Holt. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

Mr. Starnes was born December 15, 1924 in Winona, TX to Herman and Eula Bell Starnes and passed away on March 17, 2010, in Beaumont, surrounded by his loving family. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was a long-time member and usher at Calvary Baptist Church and was retired from the pharmaceutical company, Morris-Dixon. Mr. Starnes loved playing dominoes, traveling, visiting his grandchildren and keeping up with sports and church life.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jo Starnes; children, Jimmie Lee Cropper of Walnut Creek, CA, Tanya Starnes of Berkeley, CA, Marilyn and Mike Holt of Weatherford, TX, Wally Sanford of Fred, TX, and Jody and Dana Sanford of Colonial Beach, VA; eleven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.