Danny Ray Nelms stepped into the presence of the Lord, our Savior on Sunday, October 26, 2025. He will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, infectious laughter, and his faith in the Lord shown throughout his life.
Danny was born in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday, August 9, 1964, to Rev. Gordon and Youvon Nelms. His childhood interests were climbing trees; ramping his bike over the driveway bush; and disassembling Dad’s Walkie-Talkies and CB radios. If you ask, he would enthusiastically show-off his masterful skills on the Pogo Stick and the Unicycle. His sense of balance was legendary.
In June of 1973, the Nelms family moved to Mount Pleasant, Texas. Danny was an adventurous young explorer. One day he hopped on an open train car in downtown Mt. Pleasant on Third Street and rode it all the way to Pittsburg. When the train arrived in Pittsburg, he jumped off and walked all the way back home. He only revealed this experience one family holiday gathering as an adult, safe from retribution.
In Junior High, he signed up for band and played trumpet throughout High School. He played in the Top MPHS Band and also the Jazz Band. In High School, he also focused on electrical trade classes and developed an interest in electrical technology and engineering. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1982, and headed to DeVry Institute of Technology in Dallas, Texas.
After earning his degree from DeVry Institute, he started his career as an electrical engineer with Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas.
While attending Covenant Church in Carrolton Texas, he met his “Sweetie”, Venetia Larson, and they were married on September 9th, 1989.
In 1996, Danny and Venetia moved to Mt. Pleasant where he worked for Pilgrims until June 2010. In 2012, he took a position with Luminate where he worked until Oct 26, 2025. Danny and Venetia attended the Mission Church in Mt Pleasant, where he often played the Shofar, an ancient musical horn typically made from a ram’s horn. Danny & Venetia were mission-minded traveling to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Turkey, Israel, Belize and other nations during his lifetime sharing his walk with Jesus.
Left to cherish Danny’s memory is his wife of 36 years, Venetia Nelms; his father Gordon Nelms; his siblings: Steven & Sharon Nelms, Shandra van Reenen; nieces and nephews: Bethany & Michael Willcox, Bryson van Reenen & Kyla Mock, Riley van Reenen; great-nieces and nephews: David Willcox, Aiden Willcox, Greyson van Reenen, Westyn van Reenen, Lyla van Reenen, and Emeri Smith, as well as many cherished Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother: Youvon Hart Nelms; grandparents: Raymon Lee Hart and Grady Freeze Hart, William Augustus Nelms and Gertrude Hightower Nelms.
Memorial services for Danny will be held December 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 2201 Hwy 49, Mount Pleasant, TX 75455.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in remembrance of Danny Nelms to: The Mission Church PO Box 2308 Mt. Pleasant, TX 75456