Thursday, May 06, 2010

Artesia Councilman Larry Nelson: A Funeral that will be remembered for a lifetime!





By Randy Economy
http://www.economy4abc.blogspot.com/
May 6, 2010
3:45 p.m.

Artesia, CA:

Today the People of Artesia, California gathered to remember the life of a remarkable man who touched everyone in this tight knit enclave.

Councilman Larry Nelson was laid to rest today with pomp and ceremony and love and tenderness.

Longtime friend Ed Bloomfield, an icon himself here in Artesia, remembered the "lovable Larry" as a "real genuine, gentle soul who was larger than life."

"Larry deeply loved his family, friends, and his city and country," Bloomfield said during an emotional graveside service. "Larry would give and give without fanfare, over and over again, to the people of Artesia. He loved this city, and this city loved Larry Nelson."

The funeral today was something this community shall not forget for generations.

Nelson who died on May 1 after fighting a battle with bone cancer was escorted from Holy Family Catholic Church to the historic Artesia Cemetery in a glass enclosed, horse drawn carriage with two magical white horses, and three well dressed Coachmen.

The graveside service, that was attended by several hundred people had a touching 21 Gun Salute from a retired military corp, an Irish bag piper, the launching of white doves, singers (his favorite song  "Happy Trails" was sung today) and taps were played.

Nelson served on Artesia’s City Council since March 1999, and has been mayor twice.

He coined the popular slogan that can still be seen on bumper stickers throughout the city, “Artesia, where every day is a good day.”

He married his wife Pat in 1970, and is survived by her, their son Chip, daughter-in-law Dawn, and grandchildren Austin Gray, Dakota Nelson, and Larry Nelson III.

Related articles by Zemanta

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

2 comments:

Friend of Larry! said...

This funeral was HUGE...and LARRY would have LOVED every minute of it! Great tribute, Randy!

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable funeral and Larry deserved all of it. No one will ever walk in his shoes...