Nelson, Raymond E., Jr., 87, October 29, 2013. Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
HOULTON – Raymond Eugene Nelson, Jr. (Gene), 87, passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at a local health care facility. Gene was born on May 14, 1926, in Oakfield, Maine, at the farmhouse of his great-grandfather, to Raymond E. and Jane (Moore) Nelson. Gene has been a resident of Houlton, Maine since 1947. He was the youngest of three children.
Gene graduated from Gardiner High School in Gardiner, Maine in 1943, and volunteered to serve in the Marine Corps on July 3, 1943. After training at Paris Island, Gene was deployed to the Pacific theater for the remainder of the war. He took part in the campaign on Guam and participated in the siege of Iwo Jima, spending 29 days on the island before his unit was relieved. After the conclusion of fighting the war in the Pacific, Gene took part as one of twelve Americans in supervising the surrender of 30,000 Japanese Troops on the Island of Truk in the spring of 1946. Gene concluded his time of active duty with the Marine Corps in China.
Upon returning to the United States, he attended Ricker College graduating with a degree is business finance. Thereafter, he settled in Houlton, married Janette Bates September 6, 1948, and raised four sons. Gene served as the business manager for Ricker College and then worked in the business and accounting field until his retirement from Houlton International Inc.
Gene was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, the Houlton Lodge of Elks, where he was a Past Exalted Ruler and Past Trustee, and a member of the Houlton Monument Lodge of Masons AF&AM.
Gene was an avid carpenter and a fine craftsman of many beautiful furniture pieces. He particularly enjoyed spending time with Janette at their camp on Drews Lake.
He was predeceased by his brother, Freeland; sister, Norma; and grandson, Craig Nelson. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Janette; four sons, Daniel and Sherry, Gary, Mark and Ann, and Matthew and Laurie; eight grandchildren, Pamela, Elizabeth, Stephen, Waylon, Grace, Benjamin, Regan and Elise; and nine great-grandchildren, Brittany, Zachariah, Isaiah, Victoria, Elias, Ian, Dylan, Nelson and William, also several nieces and nephews.
Friends visited with the family on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Houlton from 11 to 12 with a memorial service following. Guests were invited to join the family in Watson Hall for refreshments and a time of remembrance. Messages of condolence may be expressed at www.dunn funeral.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gene’s memory to the Church of the Good Shepherd, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, or the charity of ones choice c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton 04730.
