Eva Irene McKinney Nelson

Eva Irene McKinney Nelson was born on July 9, 1963, in Cleveland, Ohio to the union of Frederick and Myrtle Parrish McKinney. Eva was a graduate of West Tech High School and earned her Computer Processing degree at Cleveland State Community College. She spent the beginning of her career in healthcare taking care of others. Thereafter, she decided to work in quality control for Tyson Foods where she later retired.

She married Christopher Nelson on August 21, 2009, and to this union a blended family was conjoined. She was a dedicated wife, and her love as a mother was unconditional. Not only to her own children ,but too many others who looked up to her as a mother figure. She loved cooking, and anyone who came to visit would never leave on an empty stomach. She had a huge love for all genres of music, but nothing moved her more than gospel. She loved the Lord and turned her triumphant experiences into testimony to bring others closer to God.

Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. She was their biggest fan at their sports festivities, and school functions. Most of all, Eva was about family. Coming together for Sunday dinners or holidays was always important to her. She enjoyed every moment laughing, sharing stories, and creating precious memories.

She passed peacefully from this life on Sunday January 21, 2024 at CHI St. Vincent with her family by her side. She was preceded in death by her parents; Frederick and Myrtle Parrish McKinney; her brother Billy McKinney; her sister Mary McKinney Rogers; and her Mother in-law; Rosie Lee McCray

Although she is no longer her in the physical, her spirit will live on in the hearts of her husband, Christopher Nelson of Gurdon, AR; her children, Jessica Camacho (Montago Crow) of Gurdon, AR, Miguel Ortiz of Bryan, TX, Martha Ortiz McClelland (Keonta) of Gurdon, AR and Monica Nelson-Featherly (Timothy) of Bismark, AR; 12 grandchildren, three sisters, Margaret (Eddie) Watson, OH, Janet (Jim) Stenger of Phil Campbell, AL and Joann Farrington of Nashville, TN; two brothers, Raymond (Brenda) McKinney of Phil Campbell, AL, Thomas Frederick (Ruby) McKinney, nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and friends.

Submitted by the Nelson Family.

Public visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024, and the family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A celebration of her life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Gurdon, Arkansas, with Pastor Johnny Harris, officiant and David Graves, eulogist. The interment will be at Rose Hedge Cemetery in Gurdon, Arkansas.

Montago Crow, Anthony Cunningham, Jr., Eric McClure, David Sims, Robert Pate, Jay Thomas, and Timothy Featherly will serve as active pallbearers. Honorable to mention are Miguel Ortiz and E’lyas Lanton.