Mr. Raymond P. Nelson, 80, passed away peacefully at his home on the morning of Tuesday, July 24, 2007.

He was a resident of Picayune, and a former resident of Violet, La.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Florence Nelson; his sisters, Josephine Johnson, Kathleen Deblanc, Veronica Romano, Teresa Delice and Clemorse Bernardo; and his first wife, Audrey Nelson Strain.

He is survived by his present wife of 36 years, Mrs. Marion Arcement Nelson; his sons, Wayne Nelson, Chris Nelson, Don Short and Harry Luke; his daughters, Peggy Luke, Jo Ann Guillory Skeins and Lisa Strain Evans; his grandchildren, Steven Nelson and Cheri Luke and a large extended family.

Mr. Nelson was born in New Orleans on March 9, 1927 and retired from Lone Star Industries, Inc. He was loved and will be greatly missed.

Relatives, friends, employees of Lone Star Industries, Inc. and employees of the Chalmette, LA Wal-Mart store are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. (in Metairie Cemetery), on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 12 p.m. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Interment will follow in Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.

To sign and view the Family Guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.