Gary Burton Nelson

Gary Burton Nelson, 65, a native of Lansing, Mich., and resident of Houma, died at 5:47 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006. Visitation will be from noon to funeral time Saturday at Chauvin Funeral Home. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel. He is survived by his wife, Lila Rose Garrett Nelson of Houma; three sons, Gary F. Nelson of Houston, David L. Nelson of Atlanta and Benjamin J. Nelson of Nashville, Tenn.; one daughter, Mary D. Slaton of Belle Chasse; two brothers, Larry Nelson of Tampa, Fla., and Mike Nelson of Lansing; one sister, Wendy Horton of Foley, Ala.; and 15 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Nelson and Ann Rose Nelson; one daughter, Susan Rene’ Handy; and one sister, Terry McCormick. He was a retired helicopter pilot with P.H.I. and a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, received the Purple Heart, entered the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army as a warrant officer.