Francis Benton "Buttons" Nelson, Jr., 69, of Colton's Point, MD died April 14, 2010 at Washington Hospital Center. Born September 2, 1940 in Leonardtown, MD he was the son of the late Francis B. and Mary Helen Russell Nelson, Sr.

He was the loving husband of Rose Dingee Nelson whom he married on June 24, 1967. He is also survived by his daughter Barbara Rose Nelson of Alexandria, VA. Francis lived in Clements until he was seven years old and then moved to Colton's Point.

He attended Holy Angels Grade School and graduated from Margaret Brent High School in 1958. He was drafted in the U.S. Army on October 10, 1963 where he completed Basic Training at Ft. Gordon, GA. He was stationed in Vendeen, France and was a Military Policeman. He won medals for his marksmanship and traveled in Europe for a month. He received an Honorable Discharge on September 20, 1965. Francis retired from the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head, MD on April 14, 1995 after 33 years of service, First with CAD and then as an Engineer Technician. He was a good and loving father, husband and best friend. After retirement at age 55, he was an avid reader of books about WWII. He loved reading, boating, fishing, driving his golf cart around Colton Point to visit his neighbors, operating his computer and listening to Bluegrass music with his friends. Each day you could find him at home watching his favorite show " Last of The Summer Wine" on MPT. He was a Jack of all trades and could fix anything or tell you how to fix it. Buttons was also a history buff who could talk to you about any subject. He had a lot of long conversations about his cat "Willie Nelson", but most of all his love and passion was his wife Rose and his daughter Barbara.

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 19, 2010 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 10:00 AM in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, MD with Fr. William Gurnee officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be Ted Downs, David Nelson, Martin Connelly, John Russell, Chris Lawrence and George Vallandingham. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Nelson, Joe Friess, Jack Crutchfield, Rod Nelson, Bernard Cullins and Dale Lawrence.

Contributions may be left to the Cancer Care & Infusion Center, P.O. Box 527, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or the 7th District Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609 and/or The Heart Association of Maryland, 415 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.