Steve's Funeral

Walk-in Song - How Great Thou Art (Alan Jackson)

Welcome and Prayer

I want to welcome you here this morning as we both remember and celebrate the life of Steve Nellis as he has gone home to be with his Heavenly Father. As we begin our service, let us go to the father in prayer.

Heavenly Father we thank you for this day that you have given us, to gather and remember and celebrate the life of Steve Nellis. We thank you for the family and friends who have gathered here today to honor him. Father, as we spend this time together today, I pray that you would be with us. I pray that you would provide your comfort and peace. I pray that this service will honor Steve appropriately, and that you will be glorified in all that is done here today. It is in Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

Obituary Reading

Stephen "Steve" Earl Nellis, 81, of Mt. Vernon, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Select Specialty Hospital.

Steve was born in Evansville, Indiana on April 13, 1941 to the late Frederick Eugene and Marilyn (Wiggers) Nellis Dismore. He retired from CSX Railroad after 36 years of service as a railroad engineer. Steve was a faithful member of New Bethel Baptist Church where he served as trustee and a greeter. In his free time he enjoyed woodworking, gardening, camping and volunteering at New Harmony State Park. Steve was also a corvette enthusiast. He was outgoing and loved talking to people. Steve will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.

Steve is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Gayle (Page) Nellis of Mt. Vernon, IN; sons, Steve Nellis (Denise) of Evansville, IN, Brent Nellis of Evansville, IN, Randy West (Teresa) of Evansville, IN and Nick West (Mischi) of Mt. Vernon, IN; sister-in-law, Diane Nellis; grandchildren, Brittney Doss (Ian), Jeremy Nellis (Gwen), Noah Nellis, Ciara Schmidt (John), Skylar West, Justin Buchanan (Anne), Lacey Brauser (Brylan) and Chase West (Tate); 16 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Gene Nellis.

Song - Long Black Train (Josh Turner)

Funeral Sermon

Remembering Steve

There are many things that can be said about Steve Nellis.

He was a loving husband. He and Gayle were married for 47 years a testament to their commitment to and love for one another.

He was a wonderful example of a father. He loved his children. He instilled in them values and lessons that will not soon be forgotten.

He was a doting grandfather and great-grandfather. Loving his grandchildren and cheering them on in all of their endeavors.

He was a beloved friend. Always bringing joy and laughter with him wherever he went. Though I have only been at New Bethel for a little over a year, I will never forget the way that Steve embraced me as a friend from the day that I got there, and the way that he loved my family.

He was a hard worker. He worked for CSX Railroad for 36 years. He was a person that was willing to lend a hand when needed, and through their marriage, Gayle could rely on him to fix any issues around the house that they faced.

He was a devoted church member. Serving as both a trustee and greeter for many years at New Bethel. When you came to New Bethel, you could always count on Steve being their to welcome you.

He was all of these things and much more. More important than any other title that can be attributed to Steve is that Steve was a Christian. In fact, it is because Steve was a Christian that he was the man that he was.

The husband, father, grandfather, friend, worker, and church member that he was can be attributed to his relationship with Christ. A relationship with Christ transforms us and calls us to be loving, to be selfless, and to be joyful. All things that I believe can be seen in his relationships, what he did, and throughout his life.

It was in Christ alone that Steve’s hope was found. Let us take a few minutes to talk about the Hope that Steve had throughout his life, and that he has now realized in full.

2 Corinthians 5:1–5 ESV

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

It is in moments like these that we remember the fragile and temporary nature of this life that we live. Death is a reality that we all face.

And while in this life, we face many troubles and difficulties.

This passage clearly addresses both of those things, referring to our earthly bodies as a tent that can be destroyed, and that while we are in this tent we groan and are burdened.

This life we live is temporary, and it is fragile.

This reality can be sobering. For some it is even frightening, causing them to despair and anguish over the fragility of their life.

But for the Christian, death is not something that needs to be feared.

This is something that Steve knew well.

While Steve was in the hospital, I was able to visit with him.

He shared that he knew that things weren’t going well. He knew that his earthly body was failing. But he had no fear of death. He was confident of the hope that he had in Christ. He knew what awaited him.

His only concern was for Gayle and those that he was leaving behind.

He had this confidence because he knew the truth of what this passage says next.

2 Corinthians 5:6–9 ESV

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

He was of good courage, he had peace because he knew that while this life persists, he his away from the Lord. And he also knew that when his time came and he was away from the body, he would be at home with the Lord.

I can say with confidence that right now, Steve is at home with the Lord.

For those who loved him, it was hard to see Steve’s health decline. He did everything he could to keep living his life and serving the Lord, until he wasn’t able to any longer. Even when he had to carry around that oxygen machine that he couldn’t stand.

Even while he was in the hospital his same joyful personality was evident to everyone that interacted with him as he joked with the nurses that cared for him.

Right now all of those things that afflicted him, afflict him no longer. He can breath freely. With full lungs he can sing the praises of His savior and enjoy Him forever.

To put that in perspective I want you to remember the words of the hymn Amazing Grace, “When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun. We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.

This is the hope that Steve had while he lived. This is the hope is now his reality.

This is the hope that all those who have believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ hold today.

I am confident that Steve would want me to share with you about this hope that he had. because of the last verse of this passage is this. 2 Corinthians 5:10

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

We will all stand before God and by our own merit we will all be guilty because of the sin in our life. Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This gift of eternal life, of forgiveness and grace is available through Christ. it is the promise of eternal life with him.

this is available to all who believe John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

If you do not have a relationship with Christ this morning, I implore you to turn to him today. Find a family member, a friend, or a pastor who can talk with you about what it means to have this same hope that was so evident in Steve’s life.

So today we celebrate Steve’s life. We remember all of the wonderful times that we had with him. We remember all that he meant to us. And we also mourn that he is no longer with us. We have lost a great light in our lives.

We are saddened today for ourselves, because Steve is no longer with is. But we should not be sad for Steve, because Steve is no longer with us, but is at home with the Lord.

And that should bring us great peace and joy.

Closing Prayer

Let us pray,

Heavenly Father we thank you for the life of Steve Nellis. We thank you for all that he was to so many people. We pray that we will always be able to remember the times that we had with him and the lessons that we learned from him. I celebrate and am overjoyed to know that he is with you now. That his pain and affliction is gone. I pray that you will comfort those who are mourning. That you will give them your peace. That you will surround them with your love. I pray that we can live our lives with the same hope and confidence in your promises that Steve did. That we can learn from his example and live this temporary life full of trouble with joy because we know of the eternal life with you that awaits us. We thank you for Steve, and all that he meant to us. It is in Jesus name that we pray. Amen.