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NELSON, SAM (PHILIP EDWARD) 1939-2015 Sam (Philip Edward) Nelson died on February 19, 2015, at his home on San Pedro Mountain of metastatic prostate cancer. Philip was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 5, 1939 to Edna Mae Lee Nelson and John Philip Nelson, their only child. Upon his parents' move to Illinois, he grew up in the town of Roodhouse. During the summers, he lived on his grandparents' farm and was called Big Joe to his cousin's Little Jo. Here he learned the great pleasure of eating vine-ripened tomatoes. By the time he was in high school, Phil and his mother were living in El Paso, Texas. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1956 and served as a fireman on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. During this service, his real education commenced as he learned welding and fell in love with it. Out of the Navy, he went to Florida for more education as an engineer. This led to a job in an office building, where he learned exactly how much he did not like the "four walls" environment. In the early 1970s, Phil opened New Mexico Motorcycle Accessories, a custom bike shop at the corner of Carlisle and Central in Albuquerque. While the shop flourished, he got interested in wind and solar energy as he and others sought to go "off the grid" and "back to the land" and be as independent as possible. On the sidewalk in front of the shop, solar panels for the geodesic "Domes" were assembled, and passers-by sometimes found themselves recruited to help. When new bike shops saturated the market, he closed his and moved to the East Mountains. While he worked as an escort driver for wide loads, his CB handle was Yosemite Sam. In 1980, he opened South Mountain Wind Generator Service and contracted with Jacobs Wind Generators to do installations in New Mexico and other western states. By now, "Solar" Sam was also exploring passive solar power ideas. With his 44 on his hip, he worked as a "peace-keeper" at the storied, now-gone Golden Inn on Highway 14. By then, the name Sam had permanently replaced Phil. After leaving South Mountain, Sam built his own shop on State Highway 344 and named it Mountain Welding Service. The spacious building contained an interior loft apartment and used passive solar heating. While attending a Halloween party at The Mine Shaft Tavern, a fund-raiser for the Madrid Fire Department, he met Elisa River Stacy. Having heard references to her brother "Trucker," he asked Elisa, "Who is this Trucker? I'm not going to get shot, am I?" She laughed, they danced, and the wedding took place on November 13, 1993 at the shop. The business thrived, and Sam soon acquired additional titles as Mr. Recycle, Reuse, and Repair; Man of Metal; and a reputation as a Wheeler-dealer Horse Trader. Elisa brought creative inspiration that led to the design, fabrication, and installation of decorative metal gates all over New Mexico. The business prospered. Life was good. Sam said he was happiest when working in his shop. Elisa describes him as "a man who said what he meant and meant what he said." His enthusiasms included a good game of pool, green chili, two-step country dancing, the Edgewood Church of Christ, and the San Pedro Neighborhood Association. Sam is survived by his wife Elisa and many friends, customers, and associates. Cremation services were provided by Direct Services of Albuquerque. Elisa is grateful to Dr. Elizabeth Morgan of Palliative Care of New Mexico and nurses Michele and Becky of Hospice of New Mexico, whose care enabled Sam to die at home as he wished. A celebration of Sam's life will begin with a grave side inurnment service at Hyer Cemetery on Simmons Road off of Highway 344 at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, March 7, 2015. Immediately following, all are invited to a pot luck lunch and reception at Sam's Shop at 1530 State Road 344 for food and remembrances.
        Published on: Tue March 03, 2015