Curtis’ Obituary Curtis S. Nelson, Jr., 89, of Lake Charles died at 9:40 PM on Friday, February 22, 2019 in a local hospital. Curtis S. Nelson, Jr., was born in Crowley, Louisiana, on May 28, 1929, to Curtis S. Nelson, Sr., and Sylvia Sarver Nelson. He grew up in Galveston, Texas, and Lake Charles.
He graduated from LaGrange High School in 1946 and earned a degree in accounting from McNeese Junior College in 1949. He worked at numerous area businesses, including George Theriot Grocery and Feed Stores, Murray-Brooks Hardware and Oil Field Supply Company, Community Coffee Company, Cit-Con Oil Corporation, and F.P. Friesen Rice and Cattle Farm. He served in the army in Georgia and California during the Korean War and then returned to McNeese to complete his B.A. in English, which he received in 1955.
In 1961, he married Betty Friesen of Lake Charles. He attended graduate school at Louisiana State University, where he earned an M.A. in English and completed 30 hours of coursework toward his Ph.D. From 1965-67, he worked as an instructor of English at North Texas State University. He then returned to McNeese and taught English there for twenty-two years.
He also served as an academic advisor in the Department of Basic Studies. He retired from McNeese as Associate Professor in 1989. Curtis was a member of the American Legion Post 1, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, McNeese Alumni Association, and LSU Alumni Association.
He was a 3rd Degree Mason in Masonic Lodge 165 in Lake Charles. He also sang in the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus for over thirty years. He was a lifelong member of Simpson and then St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church.
Besides serving in many leadership roles, including Chair of the Board during the merger between Simpson and St. Luke, he sang in the Chancel Choir and taught the Wesley Fellowship Adult Sunday School class. Curtis loved to read and to write poetry and short fiction. He published over 350 poems and several short stories in various literary publications.
He won first place in an international poetry contest through Triton College in Illinois. He also liked to travel, to barbecue for friends and family, and to work in his garden. He loved all children, especially his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty; his children Sarah Roth and Peter Nelson and Peter’s wife Adriane Marchand Nelson; his grandchildren Clare Roth, Emerson Nelson, Hayes Nelson, and Beckett Nelson; his brother Keith Nelson and Keith’s wife Marjorie; his sisters-in-law Luckey Friesen and Billie Friesen. He was predeceased by his brothers-in-law Edwin J Friesen and James R. Friesen. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 25, 2019 at St. Luke- Simpson United Methodist Church.
The Dr. John Robert Black will officiate. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will begin in the funeral home on Sunday from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and will resume on Monday in the church from 10:00 AM until the start of the service.
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