Art graduated high school in Dekalb, MS in 1958, continued his education at Mississippi State University. While there, he played baseball with the Bulldogs as a catcher. Art, aka “Soupbone “holds the record at MSU for making an unassisted triple play. Art played Semi Pro baseball with the Baltimore Orioles for a short time.
After graduation at State, he started his football coaching career, he coached at Aberdeen, Ackerman, McComb, Kosciusko and Louisville, MS for several years then decided to go back to MSU and get his Master’s in Business and Healthcare Administration. He was Hospital and Nursing Home Administration at Noxubee General Hospital and Nursing Home until retirement.
When he retired in 2010, Mr. Strickland with Rush Foundation approached Art into getting a CON for a hospital in DeKalb which with a lot of time spent with supervisors, members of the community and state representatives. The CON was received, he was so proud and happy that they would be able to have a first-class hospital named John C. Stennis, in his hometown of DeKalb. Art had many accomplishments in his lifetime.
Art was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Annette Nester; his first wife, Pattie Nester, and stepson, Anthony Crofford.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Nester, DeKalb; stepdaughter, Amy (Shawn) Walker, Brandon MS; stepdaughter in law, Paula Crofford of Pearl, MS; step grands, Victoria (Adam) Carr, Elizabeth and Courtney Coulter of Brandon, Ms., Hunter and Julianna Crofford, Carthage, MS; great granddaughter Raeleigh Madison Carr, Brandon, MS; a brother, James Ray (Judy) Nester of Dallas, TX; a sister, Martha Sue Kirkland of Dekalb along with many nephews and nieces and friends.
Pallbearers are Hunter Crofford, Wayne Eaves, Jerry Tiller, Jimmy Lee White, Thad Holcomb, Ben Holcomb, and Daniel Hunt. Honorary pallbearers will be all the young men who played football, and the coaches who were on the sidelines with him during his coaching career. A special thank you to the wonderful and loving staff of Quality Hospice in Philadelphia, MS.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Union Hill Cemetery Fund, Grace Baptist of Philadelphia Building Fund and/or to the Dementia/Alzheimer’s association in his memory.