Warren, N.H.—
Nelson was born in Fairlee, Vt. on July 14, 1939, to Kenneth H. and Pearl A. (Butman) Kennedy. He was graduated from Orford High School, Class of 1957. On June 16, 1957, Nelson married Loralee Whitcher.
Nelson worked for Whitcher’s Mill in Warren and for Hawkensen’s Enterprise in Plymouth, N.H., for whom he installed sawmills. He was a barber in Bradford, Vt. and owned and operated Moosilauke View Restaurant in Warren along with working for Plymouth State University. Nelson served his country as a member of the Vermont National Guard based in Bradford.
Nelson was a member of the Moosehillock Lodge #63 F&AM of Warren, the Mt. Cube Lodge #10 F&AM of Orford, N.H., the Pulaski Lodge #58 F&AM of Wells River, Vt., the Bektash Shrine Club of Concord, N.H., and the Scottish Rite Body of Concord. He was active in the Warren United Methodist Church and the Fairlee Community Church. He enjoyed working on Masonic breakfasts and church dinners.
In Warren, Nelson served as a Selectman in the mid 1990s, was the caretaker of the Warren church clock, and was instrumental in the placement of the Warren Red Stone Missle. Nelson believed in volunteering and was a volunteer driver in the Warren and Fairlee communities where he also delivered senior meals.
In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, gardening, mowing his lawn and cooking.
He was predeceased by his wife; Loralee Kennedy on April 9, 2007, his son; Nelson L. Kennedy, Jr. on Dec. 24, 2013; and a brother, Arthur Giroux.
He is survived by two daughters; Charlene Kennedy and companion Robert Huckins and Lorie Ann Sackett and husband Tim, both of Warren; eight grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren; his companion of several years, Sondra Farnham of Fairlee and her family, Larry, Lisa, Sue and their families; a sister, Marie Fournier of Penacook, N.H.; a brother, Robert Giroux of Oxford, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.
There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be on Saturday, April 9 at 1 P.M. at the Fairlee Community Church, 55 Town Common Road, Fairlee, Vt. with Pastor Dick Hodge, officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in the Glencliff Village Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fairlee Community Church, PO Box 304, Fairlee, Vt. 05045 or to the Warren United Methodist Church, 5 School Street, Warren, N.H. 03279.
For more information or to offer an online condolence, please visit www.rickerfh.com
Ricker Funeral Home & Cremation Care of Woodsville is in charge of arrangements.