Nelson Lanier Dunn, Jr. was born at Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas on October 5, 1931 and passed away on September 7, 2024 at the age of 92. His parents, Dr. Nelson L. Dunn, Sr. and Freda Knight Dunn welcomed their youngest child who joined his three older sisters (Mary Jane, Freda, and Dorothy) and their first cousin (Jean) who lived with their family. Nelson grew up in the Fairmount area of Fort Worth and graduated from Paschal High School in 1949. Nelson’s father was a surgeon affiliated with John Peter Smith Hospital whose office was in the Medical Arts Building in Fort Worth. Dr. Dunn began thinking about the future when his children were young and started purchasing acreage in Waxahachie. Through the acquisition of 16 separate farms over 15 years, the 2000-acre ND Ranch was established. Nelson enrolled at Oklahoma A & M College in the fall of 1949 and majored in Agriculture. He became a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and met his future wife, Josephine Ann Hamilton, in the fall of 1950 when she entered Oklahoma A & M as a freshman and became a member of Chi Omega Sorority. At the end of his 3rd semester, Nelson learned that his father had serious health concerns and left school to return to Texas to help run the ranch. Nelson and Ann became engaged soon after his return home. She left school at the end of her freshman year and they were married on August 4, 1951. They settled on the ranch and welcomed their first child, Michael, in September 1952 and their daughter, DeeAnn in September 1954. The raising of cattle and rebuilding worn out soil at the ranch was going well, and the ND Ranch heifers and steers were winning awards at the June Hereford Feeder Calf Show and Sale at the Fort Worth Stockyards. From 1954 – 1960 ND Ranch won top honors five out of six years. After 30 years of practice, Dr. Dunn retired from medicine and moved with his wife from Fort Worth to become full-time residents at the ranch. It was the right time for Nelson to return to school and finish his degree. The family of four moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1955 and Nelson resumed his studies. In October 1956 their family grew when their third child, Jeffrey, arrived. Nelson earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1957 and began working on his Master’s Degree. He was a graduate assistant during that time and served as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma State University crop judging team that won the National Collegiate crop judging contest in Kansas City. Nelson submitted his Master thesis titled “Seed Dormancy Studies of Indiangrass, Nash, Sand, Lovegrass, Wood and Switchgrass.” His thesis was approved and Nelson completed all other requirements to earn his Master of Science degree in Agronomy in 1959. The family moved back to Texas and settled in College Station and Nelson began working on his Doctoral Degree at Texas A & M University. He did not complete his doctorate because he was needed back at the ranch to help his father whose health had worsened. Besides helping with the ranch, he also became a salesman for one of the largest seed companies in the region – Douglas King Seeds located in San Antonio. Their family attended the Methodist church in Waxahachie where Nelson served on the finance board, sang in the choir, and was the Senior High department teacher. A few years later the family made the move to Arlington, where they opened a One Hour Martinizing store in Town North Center and later another One Hour Martinizing at Cooper and Park Row. Nelson’s marriage ended in 1985 and he moved closer to his business. His neighbor across the street was a pretty lady whom he waved to and said hello to whenever they saw each other. Eventually, he crossed the street and asked her out. Nelson and Betty dated for 10 years and were married January 1, 1996. They loved to dance, to travel and both were avid readers. They spent 34 wonderful years together before Betty’s passing in March of 2020. He has missed her greatly these past four years. The family wishes to thank Melody Carrington for the wonderful care she provided for our father, grandfather, and great grandfather over the past several years. Survivors: Son, Michael Lanier Dunn (Susie); daughter, Dee Ann Dunn Ray; son, Jeffrey Nelson Dunn (Donna); grandchildren, Jeffrey Kerr Dunn (Jenny), Mark Lanier Dunn (Kristin), Sarah Dunn Daigle (Jeffrey), Hayley Dunn Hamel (Joseph); Hillary Hamilton Dunn; 14 precious great-grandchildren.