IN MEMORIAM: Nelson Shaw, 72;

C&W Stars At Fair Pampered Him

MORRIS – Nelson Shaw Jr., 72, an Otsego County Fair groundskeeper who was a favorite of Minnie Pearl, Loretta Lynn and other country stars who played here over the decades, died April 1, 2016, at the Chestnut Park Nursing Home in Oneonta.

The son of Ruth (Sickler) and Nelson Shaw, Sr., Nelson was born Dec. 19, 1943, in Oneonta.  He attended Morris Central School and was a longtime member of the Butternut Valley Grange.

In his early years, he worked as a cemetery worker in Morris and New Berlin. In Morris, he worked for the village as a CETA employee. He worked at Bendix in Sidney, and as a custodian at Laurens School and retired as a custodian for ARC.

Nelson loved playing jokes and pranks on people and hanging out with the Awesome Foursome: Luther Card, Peter Pickens and Frank Rock, who is now the only living member of the good ole boys. Nelson was a roadie for the “Unknowns” band and in later years for Miss Tracie and the Lazy T band.

At the fair, he always volunteered for grounds work and mowing grass, and being the stage manager.

In addition to Minnie Pearl and Loretta Lynn, such headliners as the Country Belles, Cooter, Jeannie C. Riley and Willie Nelson’s sister would pamper him and take him out to eat when they were in town.

During his tenure at the fair he could be found with his old buddies Cliff Drake, Dennis Canham, Harry Wild, Dale All and Lukey Miller, working or hanging out at the campers with them.

He is survived by his sisters Mary Lamphere of Norwich, and Deb (Tom) Brayton of Frankfort; nephews Nathaniel Bowers, Edward Lamphere and Rodney Lamphere; several nieces and nephews, and good friends Royce and Marguerite Webster.

He was predeceased by his parents, brother John Shaw, and nephew Adelbert Lamphere.

Special thanks to his caregivers Carrie and Smiley Phillips, Carol Nealis, and Ronnie Korth for their care of Nelson during his last years.

Calling hour will be 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, at the Johnston Funeral Home, Morris. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with burial immediately following in Hillington Cemetery, Morris.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Nelson’s name to the Morris Emergency Squad.